The Japanese company Rapidus Corporation announced on March 25, 2025, the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the international engineering firm Quest Global Services PTE. Ltd., aimed at jointly advancing cutting-edge 2-nanometer (nm) semiconductor solutions designed for Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. This collaboration positions Rapidus as the new semiconductor foundry partner for Quest Global and marks a decisive step toward developing a virtual integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model tailored to the fabless ecosystem.
The alliance will enable Quest Global’s customers to access the 2 nm gate-all-around (GAA) transistor manufacturing process developed by Rapidus, crucial for addressing the growing demand for custom chips that combine energy efficiency and high performance, essential features for the advancement of AI. Both companies will provide transformative silicon solutions, integrating design, development, and production capabilities to reduce time-to-market.
A New Model for the AI Industry
“The semiconductor industry for AI is just beginning to unfold its potential, and we see customers rapidly migrating from general-purpose chips to dedicated designs that optimize consumption and power,” said Ajit Prabhu, co-founder and CEO of Quest Global. “This agreement, based on the virtual IDM model, represents exactly the solution that AI companies are looking for globally. We are honored to contribute to this pioneering initiative in Japan.”
The CEO of Rapidus, Dr. Atsuyoshi Koike, emphasized the importance of the Rapid and Unified Manufacturing Service (RUMS) model developed by the company to shorten development cycles through a comprehensive approach covering everything from design to front-end and back-end processes. “Quest Global has shown strong interest in our manufacturing services with quick turnaround times, particularly with RUMS,” Koike stated. “Additionally, having their evaluation and feedback will strengthen our ability to acquire new clients and develop competitive products.”
Japan Strengthens Its National Semiconductor Strategy
The signing of this agreement is part of Japan’s national strategy to position itself as a global leader in advanced semiconductor technologies, a sector considered strategic due to its economic and geopolitical significance. In a context marked by the acceleration of demand for advanced chips and the need for technological sovereignty, public-private cooperation plays a central role.
The synergy between Rapidus and Quest Global also opens the door to new opportunities in the aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, health, and consumer electronics sectors, where Quest Global already operates with over 20,000 professionals in 85 development centers across more than 20 countries.
The Future of Chip Manufacturing Moves to Japan
Founded in August 2022, Rapidus aims to become a world leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced logic semiconductors. Based in Chiyoda (Tokyo) and led by Chairman Tetsuro Higashi and CEO Atsuyoshi Koike, the company has been one of the major initiatives of the Japanese government to regain its position in the competitive global semiconductor market.
Thanks to this alliance, Rapidus gains access to Quest Global’s customer network and reinforces its commitment to technology-driven innovation focused on reducing design cycles, 3D packaging, and advanced manufacturing.
This agreement, officially presented at a press conference held in Tokyo, represents a milestone in consolidating a new semiconductor ecosystem in Japan and demonstrates how strategic collaborations can make a difference in the global race for technological supremacy in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Source: Rapidus