Hardware Podcasts

Episode 45: The Japanese Semiconductor Industry

The Circuit · 5 Dec 2023 · 39m · Episode 47

What this episode covers

Professor John Metzler of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business discusses the revitalization of the Japanese semiconductor industry, highlighting key players like Tokyo Electron, Renesas, Sony, and Morata, as well as the Rapidus consortium. He explains that while the industry declined in the 1990s due to US trade friction and the rise of foundries, Japan is now leveraging its niche strengths in materials and equipment to re-emerge as a critical supply chain partner. The conversation also covers the government-facilitated Rapidus project in Hokkaido and the strategic collaboration between the US and Japan, exemplified by Minister Nishimura’s visit to UC Berkeley.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tokyo Electron, Renesas, Sony, Morata, Rapidus, ASML, TSMC, Qualcomm, JSR, JICU, Kyocera, SK Hynix, Toshiba, Kioxia, Sharp, Foxconn, AMD, Intel

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • EE Times Current · 44m

    The Prognosis is Actually Pretty Good

    Renesas Executive Vice President Sailesh Chittipeddi discusses the semiconductor industry's recovery from chip shortages, noting that capacity constraints in older nodes (130-180nm) will persist into 2022-2023, while Renesas doubles its capacity expansion plans. He highlights the industry's shift toward transparency and collaboration with customers, and details Renesas' focus on green engineering, including energy-efficient designs for data centers and consumer electronics. The episode also features an interview with Massimo Banzi, co-founder of Arduino, who discusses the evolution of the maker community, the accessibility of AI and robotics through platforms like Portenta and Nicla, and the importance of making complex technology approachable for young innovators.

    Sourcing & supply chainEnergy & climate tech
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 07m

    For a couple weeks there...

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the current state of the semiconductor industry, including Michael Burry's bearish bet on the sector and the impact of Chinese export controls on gallium and germanium. They analyze the layoffs at RISC-V startup SiFive and the acquisition of Future Electronics by W&T Microelectronics, while also covering the technical details of WS2812 LED controllers and the regulatory fraud surrounding the nuclear diamond battery.

    Sourcing & supply chainChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    9 chapters

  • EE Times Current · 26m

    China’s $28B Big Fund | The Cockiest Startup | Sony’s Ambitions

    Brian Santo and Junko Yoshida discuss three major developments in the tech industry: the launch of Nuvia, a startup founded by former Apple and Google chip architects aiming to challenge Intel's data center dominance with a new System-on-Chip; Sony's creation of an independent AI research hub focused on gaming, sensors, and robotics; and China's announcement of its $28 billion Big Fund Phase 2 to build a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain. The hosts analyze the feasibility of Nuvia's ambitious goals, Sony's strategic pivot in AI, and the long-term implications of China's state-backed semiconductor investments.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

  • Moore's Lobby · 55m

    State of the Industry: Semiconductor Insiders Discuss the Ambitions and Realities of the CHIPS Act

    Rich Simoncic of Microchip Technology, Russ Garcia of Menlo Micro, and Michael Knight of Endries International discuss the CHIPS Act's impact on US semiconductor manufacturing. They highlight the 'valley of death' for R&D, the critical need for advanced packaging and legacy node capacity, and the importance of workforce development. The panelists emphasize that while the Act is a vital first step, it must address security, supply chain resilience, and education to be truly effective.

    Policy, trade & tariffsChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    12 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 08m

    Histogrammic or Histomagraphical

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the semiconductor industry, noting Texas Instruments' decision to build new fabs in the US to leverage government funding, and the regulatory blockage of the NVIDIA-Arm acquisition. They explore computer history, referencing Douglas Engelbart's 1968 'Mother of All Demos' and the book 'Dealers of Lightning' about Xerox PARC. The conversation shifts to sourcing components from the Chinese ecosystem, specifically discussing Arrow Semi (Juanjia) and the risks of using their parts versus established brands like Analog Devices. Finally, Jones details troubleshooting a Keithley 2400 Source Measure Unit that was resetting due to a flaky CMOS backup battery, while also discussing the phenomenon of tin whiskers in electronics.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Circuit. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.