In late March 2025, Kumamoto Prefecture unveiled the Kumamoto Science Park Promotion Vision, a plan to build a semiconductor-centered science park alongside a broader innovation ecosystem. The initiative seeks to establish a public-private industrial base that promotes collaboration among semiconductor companies, research institutions, and advanced tech firms.
Covering roughly 340 hectares (approx. 840 acres), the park will follow a decentralized cluster model supported by Kyushu's academic and industrial communities. It will span four municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture: the cities of Kikuchi and Kōshi and the towns of Kikuyo and Ōzu.
The zone's core will center on Kikuyo, which already hosts key facilities including TSMC subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) and Sony's image sensor factory. This area is set to anchor the broader development.
AI, robotics, and semiconductor talent drive expansion
Adjacent to the semiconductor park, the prefecture will create an Innovation Creation Area—a collaborative platform aimed at strengthening ties between government, academia, and private industry.
Alongside semiconductor companies, the area aims to attract firms specializing in AI, autonomous driving, and robotics. The vision also includes inviting universities focused on semiconductor training and building shared research facilities, such as cleanrooms accessible to students, researchers, and businesses.
Land development and operations for the zone will be managed by a public-private consortium, to be selected via a competitive proposal process.
Governor Takashi Kimura said he hopes major developers like Mitsui Fudosan will participate. The government plans to lease land to tenant companies and establish a single-window service to simplify regulatory approvals and administrative procedures.
Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Takashi Kimura. Credit: Bloomberg
Partner selection is expected to move swiftly, with an open bidding process slated to begin in early fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026).
Addressing concerns about farmland displacement, officials said they would consult with farmers who wish to continue cultivating and provide substitute plots, aiming to balance semiconductor development with agricultural preservation.
Governor Kimura said the initiative would roll out gradually over the next decade. He stressed that the vision goes beyond chipmaking, aiming to foster next-generation industries built on semiconductor applications, such as AI, autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare, and robotics.
He added that Kumamoto's park is intended to be part of a broader network of science parks across Kyushu, consistent with the decentralized cluster model.
Article edited by Jack Wu
