A new consortium called US-JOINT, comprising 10 leading Japanese and US tech companies, has embarked on an ambitious project to advance semiconductor technologies specifically for generative AI. This initiative emerges in the context of an intensified global race to develop cutting-edge semiconductor technologies.
Resonac Holdings, a leader in semiconductor materials, announced the formation of US-JOINT, which will focus primarily on advancements in back-end semiconductor packaging, a vital phase in chip development. Traditionally, this has been an area dominated by Asian companies. However, US-JOINT strategically positions its research and development efforts closer to major US chipmakers in Silicon Valley.
The consortium features a powerful line-up of six Japanese and four American firms. Among the Japanese participants are Towa, known for its expertise in chip manufacturing equipment, and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, the top global producer of photoresists. The US contingent includes Azimuth Industrial, a key player in semiconductor packaging, and KLA, a renowned chip toolmaker.
The collaboration underscores a strategic pivot, aligning the expertise of these major firms to foster innovation in semiconductor technology. This partnership reflects the increasingly collaborative nature of high-tech industries, as companies seek to pool resources and knowledge to drive forward technological advancements.
The initiative also highlights significant investments by major tech firms in Japan’s cloud and AI infrastructure. In 2023, Japan ranked 32nd globally in digital technology adoption and faced a considerable shortage of digital workers. To address these challenges, companies like AWS, Google Cloud, OpenAI, Oracle, and NVIDIA are making substantial investments.
AWS has committed to investing $15.24 billion by 2027 to expand its cloud facilities and address Japan’s digital skills gap through education and training. Similarly, Google Cloud is investing $1 billion to enhance digital connectivity, including the installation of new subsea cables to improve links between the US, Japan, and the Pacific Islands, supporting its Japan Digitization Initiative.
OpenAI has launched its first Asia office, introducing a GPT-4 model optimized for Japanese, promising faster text translation and summarization. Oracle Japan has pledged over $8 billion over the next decade to expand its cloud infrastructure and support digital sovereignty requirements. NVIDIA is partnering with Japanese digital infrastructure providers to develop essential AI-focused cloud services, with the Japanese government allocating approximately $740 million to subsidize AI computing resources for local firms.
Further underscoring Japan’s growing demand for AI industry support, Microsoft announced a $2.9 billion investment over the next two years. This investment will focus on deploying advanced GPUs for demanding AI workloads, expanding the capacity of its Azure data centers in West Osaka and East Tokyo. This marks Microsoft’s largest-ever investment in Japan, reflecting a robust commitment to deepening its involvement in the country’s digital transformation.
The formation of US-JOINT and the substantial investments by major tech companies illustrate the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI and semiconductor technology, highlighting the importance of international collaboration and strategic investments in achieving technological breakthroughs.
