Japanese chip makers may join forces
Hitachi, NEC, others could make next-generation chips
msnbc.com
TOKYO, Dec. 30 — Eleven of Japan’s major semiconductor makers, including Hitachi Ltd and NEC Corp, are investigating a possible joint company to produce next-generation chips, Japanese media said on Sunday.
QUOTING SOURCES CLOSE to the issue, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun business daily (Nikkei) said the project, the first of its kind, could start building a plant to produce next-generation chips as early as next year.
Although Japanese chipmakers have tied up in technological development before, this would be the first such agreement involving production.
Through the project, the firms — which also include Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Toshiba Corp, Fujitsu Ltd, Oki Electric Industry Co and Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co —would aim to cut plant construction costs, estimated at around 200 billion yen ($1.52 billion), the Nikkei said. |
