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Mie Prefecture targets infrastructure and labor challenges to expand its semiconductor manufacturing cluster
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 03:20 AM
Mie Prefecture is intensifying efforts to strengthen its semiconductor manufacturing cluster, focusing on addressing infrastructure and labor shortages to support major facilities like those of United Semiconductor Japan (USJC) and Kioxia. The local government aims to enhance the supply chain ecosystem to maintain its competitive edge in the domestic industry.
Context
Japan’s Mie Prefecture is accelerating its semiconductor strategy to resolve critical infrastructure and labor constraints as major players like United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) expand their local presence. Through its subsidiary USJC, UMC operates a major 300mm wafer fab in Kuwana, focusing on 28nm and specialty process technologies essential for automotive and AIoT applications. To sustain this cluster, the prefectural government has launched a 2025 fiscal year plan to integrate advanced foreign talent and host industry matchmaking events, aiming to support a production capacity that already exceeds 780,000 wafers per month in the region.
Beyond traditional manufacturing, Mie is emerging as a strategic hub for AI infrastructure. In February 2026, SuperX AI Technology announced a 4MW liquid-cooled pilot data center in the prefecture, serving as a precursor to a potential 300MW campus. This convergence of high-volume chip production and specialized AI data centers positions Mie as a vital link in Japan’s broader revitalization strategy, which includes over 2 trillion yen in national subsidies to regain global semiconductor leadership by the late 2020s.
Sources (10)
[PDF] Outline of Semiconductor Revitalization Strategy in Japan July 2024 ...三重県の半導体組織、外国人材に就業体験 25年度計画Japan enforcing new industrial policy for semiconductor industryTaiwanese chipmaker UMC unveils $5b fab expansion in ...Japan Seeks to Revitalize Its Semiconductor Industry - CSIS4MW data center could be developed in central Japan - DCD令和7年三重県議会定例会 知事提案説明（追加提案）UMC Expands 28nm Capacity and Participates in Fujitsu’s Tripartite Cash Increase.-Mtia - Research and development of universal embodied intelligence and embodied operating system
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