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  • ISSN (Print) 0205-9606
  • ISSN (Online)2713-041X

Japan’s Semiconductor Industry: Topical Trends and Strategic Importance

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PII
S013128120023340-5-
DOI
10.31857/S013128120023340-5
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Georgiy Paksyutov
Volume/ Edition
Volume / Issue 6
Pages
113-124
Abstract

The article is dedicated to studying both the long-term and current trends in Japan’s semiconductor industry. Semiconductor production is crucial for the present-day economy, and its importance is only increased by the ongoing process of digital transformation, by COVID-19 pandemic and the international political turbulence that puts strain on the existing global value chains. Moreover, semiconductors are urgently needed by electronics and car producers and by other industries that employ microchips, they could contribute to reducing Japan’s dependence on imported energy commodities. Developing the semiconductor industry is a task stated in official documents of the Japan’s government. However, Japanese semiconductor industry has been in relative decline since the late 1980-s, and the national producers now lag behind the global leaders in terms of technology. Various measures are being implemented to revitalize the industry and reverse the decline (that was partially caused by trade tensions with the US), including state subsidies and increased cooperation with foreign companies. If Japan manages to achieve its ambitious goals, such as doubling the size of the national semiconductor market by 2030 and launching the production of the new-generation microchips, it will lay the ground for other large-scale projects including the creation of ‘Society 5.0’ and the achievement of carbon neutrality. To proceed with the tasks, it is urgent that Japan’s semiconductor industry overcomes the current engineer shortage and employs the globally competitive technology. As the global demand for semiconductors expands, the semiconductor industry could become the engine of growth in other related sectors of Japan’s economy.

Keywords
Japan, semiconductors, digital economy, global value chains, high-tech industry, ‘Society 50’
Date of publication
20.12.2022
Number of purchasers
10
Views
519

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