Rapidus Corporation, a leading Japanese advanced logic semiconductor foundry, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Keysight Technologies Japan K.K., a subsidiary of Keysight Technologies, Inc. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to jointly develop a high-precision Process Design Kit (PDK).
The collaboration will leverage Keysight’s semiconductor parametric tester technology, analysis solutions, and expertise in manufacturing process optimization. By integrating these capabilities, Rapidus aims to strengthen its Design-Manufacturing Co-Optimization (DMCO) framework and deliver groundbreaking improvements in precision through the development of advanced PDKs.
To begin, the two companies will first identify the factors that contribute to improving PDK accuracy, including the research methods and technologies, to clarify the magnitude of their impact and then consider how to realize and implement these methods. In parallel, the companies will also carry out similar efforts to identify factors that contribute to improving the performance of semiconductor elements, circuits and factors that improve the yield of the wafer process.
Keysight has been supporting the semiconductor manufacturing process by providing semiconductor parametric testers for many years. Based on the expertise that Keysight has cultivated, it has developed and commercialized original analysis algorithms and comprehensive, versatile data formats or process control monitoring to optimize semiconductor processes, improve yields and solve various on-site problems. Leveraging this new data format and analysis algorithm, Keysight is commercializing a new root-cause analysis solution, the Keysight Wafer Operations Analytics Suite. This solution aims to quickly and accurately identify the individual root causes of various problems, thereby contributing to improved semiconductor design and manufacturing quality and cost reduction.
Rapidus began prototyping 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) transistors at its new cutting-edge semiconductor development and production facility in Chitose City, Hokkaido called Innovative Integration for Manufacturing (IIM-1). Rapidus is currently building its Rapid and Unified Manufacturing Service (RUMS), a new semiconductor foundry concept which will introduce a single-wafer process for all manufacturing processes to achieve short turnaround time. Data acquisition of various semiconductor parameters has already begun. Data from parametric testers will be analyzed using Keysight’s root-cause analysis solution to identify the causes of various manufacturing issues. Rapidus will use data acquired by both companies at the manufacturing site to develop a PDK compatible with Rapidus’ 2nm GAA manufacturing process. Rapidus plans to release the PDK to initial customers by Q1 2026, creating an environment where customers can begin prototyping.
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