KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): Rapidus Corporation has roped in Malaysian firms — GreatAsic Technology Sdn Bhd, Infinecs Systems Sdn Bhd, Oppstar Bhd's (KL:OPPSTAR) Oppstar Technology Sdn Bhd and SkyeChip Bhd (KL:SKYECHIP) — as design solution associates to support the development of its global chip ecosystem framework.

The Japan-backed Rapidus said it will establish the Rapidus Collaborative Open Rapid Ecosystem (CORE), a global ecosystem framework to support the development and mass production of cutting-edge semiconductors.

As the first Rapidus CORE initiative, Rapidus said it is forming a group of design solution associates, which include 17 firms.

"Today, semiconductor development requires more than just manufacturing technology; it is essential to integrate the entire semiconductor value chain — including research institutions, EDA (Electronic Design Automation), IP (intellectual property), design and manufacturing — to provide customers with a development and production infrastructure they can rely on.

"Further, amid a global shortage of cutting-edge semiconductor talent, it is crucial to build a design ecosystem that enables customers to begin development at an early stage by collaborating with design-related companies," Rapidus said in a statement on Monday.

The 17 firms include Malaysian companies, namely GreatAsic Technology, Infinecs Systems, Oppstar Technology, and SkyeChip.

Other firms include Japan's Dai Nippon Printing, TOPPAN Inc, Toshiba Information Systems, MavissDesign, and NSW Inc and South Korea's AION Silicon.

Also listed were Indian firms namely HCL Technologies Ltd, Infosys Ltd, Moschip Technologies ltd, and Wipro Ltd; US-based companies Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys, as well as Singapore's Quest Global Services.

Design solution associates will serve as a bridge between customers and Rapidus, providing each company's design resources and specialised expertise to support the rapid evolution of semiconductor development.

This will enable Rapidus to strengthen its support system — from design through manufacturing — to meet customer needs both in Japan and overseas.

Moving forward, Rapidus will expand its CORE offerings beyond design to include EDA, IP and other categories.

Rapidus is a Japanese state-backed semiconductor company founded in 2022 to mass-produce cutting-edge two-nanometer logic chips domestically by 2027.

It was established through a partnership between the Japanese government and major private corporations, including Toyota, Sony, NTT, and SoftBank, to reduce Japan's reliance on foreign chipmakers like TSMC.