Past, Present and Future of Semiconductor supported by Mechanical Engineering

Since the invention of the transistor in 1947 and the emergence of Moore's Law in 1965, semiconductor devices have continued to develop dramatically to the present day. While the end of device scaling (the end of Moore's Law) has been called out many times, semiconductors have risen like a phoenix. While semiconductors around the world have been developing smoothly, what about Japan? In 2021, a report presented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry shocked the whole of Japan. In 1988, Japan boasted a global semiconductor market share of over 50%, but by 2020, it had fallen to less than 10%, and a threatening warning was issued that it may even be 0% by 2030. However, at the same time, there was great hope that the global semiconductor market would double in 10 years. This is truly a report of both threats and hope for Japan. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment has continued to support the world's semiconductors during this time. Mechanical Engineering (the Society of Mechanical Engineers) has continued to support the development of such semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In this article, I would like to look back on the history of semiconductors, manufacturing equipment, and the academic society activities that supported them.