More about Sony-TSMC Fab in Japan

NikkeiAsia, TaiwanNews: The planned TSMC fab in Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu in western Japan, would go forward in two phases, according to Nikkei Asia. The board of TSMC is expected to decide on the investment in the current quarter. 

The plant is expected to start operation in 2023. Once both phases are complete, the new fab will produce about 40,000 wafers per month in 28nm process. The fab is expected to be mainly used to make image sensors for Sony, TSMC's largest Japanese customer. Nikkei has been told that TSMC is open to a collaboration that would give Sony more say in operating the plant and negotiating with the Japanese government.

ElectronicsWeekly presents another view on Sony-TSMC fab project: "Sony has a $7 billion+  revenue business in image sensors which makes the  $2.5 billion cost of such a fab a reasonable proposition."

Bloomberg reports that Japan intends to revive its domestic chip design and production industry and reverse the current downward R&D trend: