Best in Show Winners: Processing & IP

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Winners have been chosen based on a 15-point rubric that considers solutions' Design Excellence (5 points), Relative Performance (5 points), and Market Impact/Disruption (5 points).

embeddedcomputing.com/, Mar. 13, 2023 – 

Japan's semiconductor industry was once the driving force of Japan's economy. Now, it lags behind the United States and China. However, for the first time in the world, a research team from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has successfully boosted the performance of organic semiconductors 100-fold. They did this by applying caffeic acid, a substance which is naturally found in coffee, to the electrodes.

Because the technology uses compounds derived from biomass, it reduces the environmental impact. It could also play a key role in lifting Japan out of its current predicament.

Organic Semiconductors to Take the Stage

Until the 2000s, Japan was a global leader in the semiconductor industry. The chips were called "the rice of manufacturing" for their crucial role in the domestic manufacturing industry. However, Japan lost its global competitive edge due to failures in its development investment strategy and the emergence of the United States, China, and Taiwan. There are now no traces of its past glory.

To that end, the government put together a semiconductor strategy in June 2021. It also began investing in massive subsidies to attract R&D and production bases. In an attempt to turn the tables, Japan has also agreed with the US to establish R&D centers for next-generation semiconductors.

Semiconductors are indispensable for all kinds of electronic devices, including computers, telecommunication devices, automobiles, and household appliances. From the standpoint of economic security, Japan needs to boost research and development, and production capabilities.

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