USJC, a subsidiary of Taiwan's UMC, plans to invest at least ¥50 billion over the next 3 years in its Mie Plant in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. The investment is expected to focus on expanding production of automotive power semiconductors and related products.
USJC, a subsidiary of Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), disclosed in an exclusive interview with the Chunichi Shimbun on 20 August that it plans to invest at least ¥50 billion over the next 3 years in its Mie Plant in Kuwana. The main investment is reportedly intended to expand manufacturing equipment to meet semiconductor demand from the AI and data center sectors.
USJC's Mie Plant has a history as a former Fujitsu-affiliated facility and is located at 2000 Mie-no, Tadocho, Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. The Mie Plant investment plan is positioned as part of efforts to strengthen the region's manufacturing base, alongside the diversification of semiconductor sites in Japan.
This article outlines the current status of the Mie Plant and the new investment plan based on official materials and publicly available information from USJC and UMC. It also reviews trends in semiconductor industry attraction and investment in Japan, including Mitsubishi Engineering and manufacturing sites in other regions, as well as the natural environment around the plant, including the Kiso Three Rivers.