Samsung Electronics Holds Ceremony for Mass Production Shipment of 3nm Foundry

Determined to Advance Toward Global Leadership with Innovative Technology

Kyung Kye-hyun, CEO of Samsung Electronics DS Division (from left), Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Choi Si-young, Head of Samsung Electronics Foundry Business Division, are posing for a commemorative photo at the "World's First GAA-based 3nm Mass Production Shipment Ceremony" held on the morning of the 25th at Samsung Electronics Hwaseong Campus in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] On the 25th, Samsung Electronics held a shipment ceremony for its 3nm (nanometer, one billionth of a meter) foundry product applying next-generation transistor Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology at the V1 line (EUV dedicated) of its Hwaseong Campus in Gyeonggi-do. About 100 people attended the ceremony, including Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kyung Kye-hyun, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics DS Division, executives and employees, as well as executives from partner companies and fabless firms.

In his congratulatory speech, Minister Lee expressed gratitude to Samsung Electronics employees and the semiconductor industry for their hard work and urged, "To stay ahead in the fierce competition of advanced process technology, Samsung Electronics, the system semiconductor industry, and the materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) industry must unite their efforts." He also emphasized, "The government will spare no effort in supporting private investment, nurturing talent, developing technology, and building the SoBuJang ecosystem based on the 'Semiconductor Superpower Achievement Strategy' announced last week."

President Kyung encouraged the employees, saying, "With this product mass production, Samsung Electronics has made a milestone in the foundry business," and added, "Successfully developing the GAA technology early, which will be a new alternative when FinFET transistors reach their technical limits, is an innovative result that creates something out of nothing."

Samsung Electronics began researching the GAA transistor structure in the early 2000s and officially applied it to the 3nm process starting in 2017. Last month, it announced the world's first mass production of the 3nm process applying GAA technology. The 3nm process is the most advanced technology among semiconductor manufacturing processes. After starting mass production of 3nm GAA foundry process products at the Hwaseong Campus, Samsung plans to expand to the Pyeongtaek Campus in the future. Samsung Electronics is applying the 3nm GAA process to high-performance computing (HPC) for the first time and is collaborating with major customers to expand its application to various product lines, including mobile system-on-chip (SoC) products.

Jung Ki-tae, Vice President and Head of Technology Development at Samsung Electronics Foundry Business Division, emphasized overcoming technological development limits through collaboration beyond business units such as the Foundry Business Division, Semiconductor Research Institute, and Global Manufacturing & Infrastructure Headquarters during the technical development progress report at the event. He also expressed confidence that "Samsung Electronics Foundry Business Division will advance toward becoming the world's best with innovative technology," and stated the ambition to strengthen business competitiveness through mass production of the 3nm GAA process and proactive foundry technology.

Executives from partner companies and fabless firms also expressed high expectations for this 3nm foundry shipment. Hyun-duk Lee, CEO of semiconductor equipment company Wonik IPS, said, "Preparing for the mass production of the 3nm GAA foundry process with Samsung Electronics has further enhanced the capabilities of Wonik IPS employees," and added, "We will continue to do our best with Samsung Electronics for the development of the domestic semiconductor equipment industry."

Lee Jang-gyu, CEO of fabless company Telechips, said, "Telechips has high expectations for future product designs utilizing Samsung Electronics' ultra-fine process," and added, "Samsung Electronics actively provides ultra-fine foundry processes to domestic fabless companies and offers various support measures to help fabless companies expand their product design scope."