Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Science jointly hold launch ceremony for 1 trillion KRW technology development project group
Two MOUs signed for collaboration between demand companies and development companies
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The "Next-Generation Intelligent System Semiconductor Technology Development Project," which invests 1 trillion KRW in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, has begun.
The government announced that on the 10th at 2 p.m., it held the "Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Project Group Launch Ceremony" and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between the public and private sectors at the Semiconductor Industry Association in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.
The launch ceremony was attended by about 20 people, including Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT; Kim Hyung-jun, head of the Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Project Group; Park Sung-wook, Vice Chairman of SK Hynix; major companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix; and related organizations such as the Semiconductor Industry Association.
◆ 1 Trillion KRW Invested Over 10 Years in AI Semiconductor Project... Project Group Establishes Mid- to Long-Term Semiconductor Development Roadmap
This project will invest 1.0096 trillion KRW over 10 years from this year until 2029, with 103 companies, 32 universities, and 12 research institutes participating in 82 tasks this year.
The project group is a single corporation that will serve as the central hub for the "Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Technology Development Project," jointly launched by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT starting this year.
It will plan the project and establish a mid- to long-term development roadmap covering all areas of the semiconductor industry, including semiconductor devices, design, and manufacturing equipment. It will promote organic connections with supporting institutions and act as a bridge for public-private cooperation.
◆ Enhancing Stability of Semiconductor Materials, Components, and Equipment... Public-Private MOU Signed
The public and private sectors signed two cooperation MOUs on the day.
First, they signed a "Cooperation MOU to Enhance Competitiveness in Semiconductor Materials, Components, and Equipment."
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT agreed to actively support technology development for semiconductor materials, components, and equipment, resolve difficulties faced by related companies, and improve systems.
The Semiconductor Industry Association, Nano Convergence Technology Institute, and Convergence Innovation Support Group will actively promote infrastructure construction reflecting corporate demands, linkage between basic/application evaluation and mass production evaluation, and cooperation related to pattern wafer support projects to ensure successful commercialization of materials, components, and equipment.
Through this, the stability of supply for materials, components, and equipment is expected to improve.
◆ Accelerating Infrastructure Construction and Product Commercialization... Strengthening Industrial Ecosystem Competitiveness
A "Cooperation MOU between Major Semiconductor Companies and Institutions" was also signed, involving demand, sponsoring, and development companies as well as cooperating institutions.
Companies will mutually cooperate in joint research, sharing information on performance needed in the early stages of product development, and providing foundry services for design verification.
Cooperating institutions will actively support prototype production, analysis and evaluation, and design and verification infrastructure to commercialize developed products.
◆ Government: "Early Establishment of the World's Best AI Semiconductor Ecosystem"
Sung Yun-mo (right), Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT, are seen entering the conference room to attend the Cabinet meeting held on July 28 at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Minister Sung said, "To strengthen the competitiveness of the entire system semiconductor ecosystem, we will expand and reorganize the Convergence Alliance 2.0, strengthening solidarity and cooperation among 'design companies-foundries-demand companies' centered on AI semiconductors. We will also spare no comprehensive support to enhance the competitiveness of the ecosystem, including materials and equipment industries."
Minister Choi said, "To achieve the great goal of advancing from a memory powerhouse to a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse, I ask the project group launched today to serve as a central hub and play many roles. The Ministry of Science and ICT will proactively introduce and spread AI semiconductors in connection with D.N.A (Data, Network, AI) innovation growth and the Digital New Deal to create an initial market, and will work closely with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and others to do its best to establish the world's best AI semiconductor ecosystem early."
Both ministers expressed in unison, "We hope that today’s event will be an important turning point for the semiconductor industry, academia, and research sectors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and for South Korea to leap forward as a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse."
Project Group Head Kim said, "Despite the COVID-19 situation, there has been great interest in the Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Project Group. We will unite industry, academia, and research to develop core and commercialization technologies for next-generation intelligent semiconductors and lay the foundation to become the world’s top semiconductor powerhouse."
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