Japan's SoftBank has partnered with Intel to co-develop cutting-edge DRAM tailored for AI applications, aiming to challenge the incumbent High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) technology. The new chip initiative could receive backing from the Japanese government and is part of a broader national effort to revitalize Japan's semiconductor ecosystem.
Saimemory's blueprint and leadership team
According to reports from Nikkei and Tokyo TV, SoftBank and Intel have established a joint venture named Saimemory to spearhead the development of low-power memory for AI applications. The venture's goal is to create a novel memory solution that surpasses HBM, offering more than double the storage capacity of existing advanced memory, reducing power consumption by 40%, and significantly lowering production costs.
Saimemory is set to commence operations in July 2025, with SoftBank appointing the chief financial officer, Intel providing the chief technology officer, the University of Tokyo contributing a chief scientific officer, and a former Toshiba executive assuming the role of chief executive. The company will focus on designing this innovative memory, with mass production outsourced to third-party manufacturers. Should the project succeed, SoftBank's AI data centers are likely to be the first to deploy the new technology.
Hironobu Tamba, head of SoftBank's semiconductor and next-generation technology development division, expressed confidence in the project's progress, emphasizing the immense market demand for low-power, cost-effective memory solutions.
Manufacturing partnerships and Japan's DRAM revival
Industry speculation surrounds Saimemory's initial foundry partners—whether Taiwanese manufacturers will handle early production before Japan's Rapidus takes over, or whether Micron, which operates DRAM fabs in both Japan and Taiwan, might participate. When questioned, Tamba refrained from naming potential foundries, citing dependency on technological development progress.
Japan's domestic semiconductor industry currently lacks DRAM production, with Kioxia Holdings Corp. focusing solely on NAND Flash. As a result, Japan has reaped only indirect benefits from the AI chip memory boom, primarily through semiconductor equipment and materials. A successful Saimemory venture could mark Japan's triumphant return to the DRAM market, where its manufacturers once commanded over 70% market share in the 1980s, providing a critical foothold for revitalizing its semiconductor sector.
Taking on South Korea's HBM dominance
South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics collectively hold a 90% share of the HBM market, according to JoongAng Ilbo. However, Saimemory's pursuit of a stacked DRAM chip with distinct architecture and lower power consumption aims to carve out a new market dynamic, diverging from South Korea's HBM stronghold.
Government backing fuels industry transformation
Saimemory's project is expected to receive significant financial support from the government as part of Japan's broader strategy to boost its semiconductor and AI industries. In November 2024, the Japanese government unveiled plans to invest at least JPY10 trillion (US$70.07 billion) in these sectors by 2030.
The government has allocated JPY1.8225 trillion in subsidies and investments specifically to Rapidus and has revised legislation to enable further assistance. In April 2025, SoftBank began constructing Japan's largest data center near Rapidus's manufacturing facility in Hokkaido, with the project receiving about JPY65 billion in government subsidies, covering roughly 45% of the costs.
This development has led to speculation that Rapidus may become a key supplier of chips for SoftBank's data centers, potentially addressing Rapidus's difficulty in securing major customers.
A senior South Korean semiconductor executive remarked that Japan's semiconductor industry, once presumed defunct except for materials, components, and equipment, is now rapidly filling its void through collaborations with the US and Taiwan, including TSMC's planned fab in Japan and IBM-backed Rapidus. This resurgence risks isolating South Korea's memory industry amid intensifying regional competition.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
