Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo after signing an MOU agreement with Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde, in Linde, Connecticut, USA, on the 12th (local time).
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon has successfully attracted an investment of $380 million (approximately 500 billion KRW) from the world's largest industrial gas company and secured the establishment of a comprehensive research center by a U.S. semiconductor materials company.
On the 12th (local time), Governor Kim announced on the 13th that he signed an investment agreement for "hydrogen for hydrogen vehicle refueling and industrial gas production" at the Linde headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut, USA, with Sanjiv Lamba, Group Chairman, and Sung Baek-seok, Chairman of Linde Korea.
According to the agreement, Linde will invest $380 million to install refueling facilities for large hydrogen vehicles such as buses in Gyeonggi Province. They will also promote the expansion of mass production of industrial gases used in semiconductor processes.
In January, Linde signed an investment agreement with Gyeonggi Province to establish an industrial gas production facility in Pyeongtaek with an investment of approximately 150 billion KRW by 2031. This new agreement represents an additional investment just three months later.
Governor Kim said, "I am grateful for the immediate additional investment following the Pyeongtaek production facility investment in January. I am confident that Linde's investment will strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's semiconductor industry." He added, "We warmly welcome this not only for the scale of the investment but also for its significant contribution to revitalizing the hydrogen ecosystem and achieving carbon neutrality. I hope to continue working together and will provide active support."
Founded in 1897, Linde is headquartered in Connecticut, USA, and is the world's largest industrial gas production and engineering company. Since establishing Linde Korea in 1975, it has recorded industrial gas sales of 950 billion KRW across locations including Giheung-Yongin, Pyeongtaek, Tangjeong, Hyeongok, Cheongju, Inju, Noksan, and Busan.
Following the attraction of Linde's investment, Governor Kim also reached an agreement with Entegris, a comprehensive U.S. semiconductor materials company, to establish a comprehensive research center in Suwon. The establishment of this research center will create approximately 150 research and development jobs, including positions for master's and doctoral-level experts.
On the same day, at Entegris' technology center in Danbury, Connecticut, Governor Kim signed a "Semiconductor Materials Research Center Investment Agreement" with James A. O'Neill, Senior Vice President of Entegris, and Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Suwon.
According to the agreement, Entegris will establish a comprehensive research center in Suwon for materials development and process solutions. Entegris recently acquired Cabot, a semiconductor materials manufacturer located in Gyeonggi Province, and ATMI, a key chemical producer for semiconductors and displays, making the establishment of an integrated research and development center necessary. This investment represents the largest scale of semiconductor research personnel attracted by Gyeonggi Province in the past five years.
Entegris is interested in industry-academia cooperation and is considering locating within a university in Suwon. Gyeonggi Province will act as a mediator for collaborative projects between companies and schools.
Governor Kim stated, "Gyeonggi Province is the hub of the semiconductor industry, producing 83% of the semiconductor added value in South Korea. With Entegris' research center joining, it will solidify its position as a semiconductor mecca." He added, "We are implementing strong growth policies, including establishing a semiconductor industry division to develop new growth industries, and this investment attraction is a great boost. We will spare no support."
Founded in 1966, Entegris is a comprehensive semiconductor solutions company with annual sales of $4 billion (approximately 4.8 trillion KRW), developing and providing core materials and processes for semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced industries. Established in 1990, Entegris Korea operates factories in Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province and Wonju in Gangwon Province, with total sales of 425.3 billion KRW.
On the 13th, Governor Kim will continue his investment attraction activities by traveling to Pennsylvania and New York.
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