Inauguration Ceremony of the 'Semiconductor Alliance and Cooperation Council,' the Top Industry-Academia-Research Semiconductor Discussion Body
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] As the global semiconductor supply chain leadership competition intensifies, a top-level semiconductor discussion body involving industry, academia, and research institutes, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, will be fully launched to strengthen the competitiveness of the 'K-semiconductor' industry ecosystem. This plan supports the K-semiconductor policy announced by the government last May and aims for the public and private sectors to unite and strengthen Korea's semiconductor leadership amid fierce international competition.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 28th, the launch ceremony of the 'Semiconductor Solidarity and Cooperation Council' was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul. It consists of 30 members, including representatives from device companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) companies, fabless (semiconductor design), foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing), packaging companies, as well as academia and research institutions in the semiconductor field.
At the event, the achievements of solidarity and cooperation promoted by the industry and future plans were shared. The main tasks of the K-semiconductor strategy prepared by the government were also reviewed.
According to the Semiconductor Association, semiconductor fund investments totaling 220 billion KRW (86 cases) have been made so far, contributing to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Through the SoBuJang performance evaluation support project, commercialization sales of 14.7 billion KRW, investments of 52.6 billion KRW, and 82 patent applications were achieved. Ten technology development projects, including three for future cars and four for the Internet of Things (IoT), discovered through the Fabless-Demand Company cooperation platform Fusion Alliance 2.0, were selected for the Next-Generation Intelligent Technology Development Project and have been under research since last year.
The government introduced achievements in human resource development under the K-semiconductor strategy, such as the agreement to establish a Samsung-KAIST contract department, an increase of 131 students in related departments in 2022, and more than a threefold increase in the semiconductor workforce training budget (15.3 billion KRW → 49.1 billion KRW). The Semiconductor Association has opened an 'Investment Difficulty Reception Desk,' and plans to operate a 'Semiconductor Investment Review Meeting' involving related ministries and local governments. For the 'K-Sensor Technology Development Project,' a total of 186.5 billion KRW will be invested over seven years starting next year.
Moon Seung-wook, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "In the fierce international competition, solidarity and cooperation among various actors within the semiconductor industry ecosystem are important," and added, "The government will also faithfully implement key tasks such as supporting corporate investment-related permits and approvals and rationalizing major regulations."
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