(Adds details from interview, background)
TOKYO, May 3 (Reuters) - Japanese microchip maker
Rapidus estimates that it needs about 2 trillion yen ($14.71
billion) for technological development, for which it will seek
mid to long-term assistance from the government, the company's
chairman told the Kyodo news agency.
The company also requires an additional 3 trillion yen to
fund mass production and is considering listing to raise capital
for that purpose, Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said in the
interview published on Wednesday.
Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said last week the
government plans to give 260 billion yen in additional subsidy
on top of a 70 billion yen funding. Rapidus is planning to build
a cutting-edge two-nanometre chip factory in Japan's northern
major island of Hokkaido.
"Going public is a major means of forming the foundation of
the company" as a way to raise 3 trillion yen, Higashi said in
the interview.
($1 = 135.9500 yen)
(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama
Editing by David Goodman and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
