It was learned on the 15th that Japan's Sony Group is discussing the construction of a new semiconductor factory in Kumamoto Prefecture. The candidate site is the new industrial park planned to be built in Koshi City, the prefecture, with an estimated investment of hundreds of billions of yen. It is envisaged to start production after 2025. It is possible that the image sensor that Sony is good at will be produced, thereby consolidating the domestic foundation.
Sensors for smartphones are expected to be manufactured at the new factory. Construction may start in 2024 at the earliest, but the construction period and investment scale will be carefully judged based on global economic trends and demand expectations.
Sony, a global giant in image sensors, already manufactures the most advanced sensors in Kikuyo-cho, the prefecture. Sony is also working with global giants Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Denso Corporation to advance the construction of a semiconductor factory in the prefecture. The Japanese government subsidizes up to 476 billion yen (about 24 billion yuan), and strives to start production by the end of 2024 at the latest.
Under the process of digitalization, the demand for global semiconductors is increasing. Semiconductors have grown in importance as materials closely related to economic security. Coupled with the promotion of the Japanese government, which wants to strengthen the domestic semiconductor industry, related trends are becoming more active.
