Sony Group and TSMC will establish a joint venture based at a new factory in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, to develop and manufacture next-generation image sensors. The total investment is estimated by multiple media outlets to be as much as ¥1 trillion, with mass production targeted to begin in 2029.
Sony Group and TSMC announced that they will establish a joint venture in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, to develop and manufacture next-generation image sensors. Sony Semiconductor Solutions will contribute approximately 60% of the new joint venture's capital and TSMC approximately 40%, with Sony holding a majority stake and leading the venture.
The production base will be established within Sony's new factory, with monthly production expected to reach approximately 10,000 12-inch wafer equivalents. The companies reportedly plan to make capital investments in stages based on demand trends, with the project expected to proceed on the assumption of substantial government subsidies.
According to the plan, the next-generation sensors will use a stacked structure combining a pixel layer that receives light with a logic layer responsible for AI processing, targeting growth in the physical AI market, which recognizes physical information from the real world in real time. The companies anticipate demand in areas including autonomous driving, robotics and smart factories.
For Sony, the project will be important because it will allow the company to maintain its leading position in the image sensor market while sharing the burden of substantial investment through the collaboration. For TSMC, it represents an opportunity to strengthen its technology base and supply chain in Japan.