[Specialized Complex] 8 Advanced Industry Specialized Universities Including Seoul National University to Receive 54 Billion KRW Support Over 4 Years This Year

Seoul National University and 7 Other Locations Nationwide
Establishment of Interdisciplinary Majors for Current Students
Support Until 2026

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 20th that it has designated eight national advanced strategic industry specialized universities, including Seoul National University, and will provide 54 billion KRW in support this year. The support is planned to continue for four years until 2026.

The eight specialized universities were selected as five 'standalone' and three 'alliance' types. The standalone universities are Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University (both in the metropolitan area), Kyungpook National University, Korea University (Sejong), and Pusan National University (non-metropolitan areas). The alliance universities are Myongji University-Hoseo University (metropolitan-non-metropolitan), Jeonbuk National University-Jeonnam National University, and Chungbuk National University-Chungnam National University-Korea University of Technology and Education (non-metropolitan areas).

Support will be provided to the universities for four years starting this year. The support fund for this year is approximately 54 billion KRW. The amounts differ by university (or alliance), with 4.5 billion KRW, 7 billion KRW, and 8.5 billion KRW allocated respectively. It is not a uniform distribution of 6.75 billion KRW to each of the eight universities. The funds are to be used for designing convergent curricula, securing excellent faculty, and establishing practical training and educational environments.

Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (right) is speaking at the Materials, Parts, and Equipment Competitiveness Enhancement Committee held at the Government Seoul Office on the 20th.
[Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@]

The specialized universities will establish interdisciplinary major programs for semiconductor-related departments. Seoul National University will focus on circuits, systems, devices, and processes; Sungkyunkwan University on next-generation semiconductors; Myongji University-Hoseo University on materials, parts, equipment packaging; Kyungpook National University on circuits, systems, devices, processes, and materials-parts-equipment; Korea University on advanced semiconductor process equipment; Pusan National University on automotive semiconductors; Jeonbuk National University-Jeonnam National University on next-generation mobility semiconductors; and Chungbuk National University-Chungnam National University-Korea University of Technology and Education on system (non-memory) semiconductors and foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) courses.

They plan to design convergent curricula based on various academic fields. Instead of teaching processes and materials-parts-equipment separately, they will conduct integrated practical training to enable efficient performance after employment, simulating real-world conditions. The plan is to nurture excellent talent through securing outstanding faculty, building educational and practical training environments, and flexible academic operations. The hiring of industry professionals as faculty will increase. Fab (factory) and practical training equipment will be expanded, and employment linkage and support will be provided in cooperation with companies. Alliance universities will offer joint or double degrees.

Among the 150,000 target personnel for talent development proposed by the government last year, 70% (105,000) were vocational high school, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students and workers. They stated that short-term course completion and financial support for double and minor majors would be provided to them. However, some raised doubts about whether this would truly develop practical on-site process capabilities, as the support was limited to existing engineering students' classes.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated that it will strictly manage both quantitative and qualitative indicators along with financial support for the specialized universities. Quantitative indicators include the number of talents trained and graduated, employment and advancement rates, while qualitative indicators include industry satisfaction. They plan to thoroughly analyze how many graduates were employed and what achievements were made in which business divisions. They will also operate the 'Semiconductor Talent Development Support Collaboration Center,' which will conduct education monitoring, joint research, and database (DB) construction. The collaboration center will consist of government officials, industry representatives such as the Semiconductor Industry Association, education sector members like the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE), and researchers.

The ministry plans to hold a launch ceremony for the specialized universities next month and begin the regular operation of the collaboration center. A workshop to share the progress and policies of the 'Semiconductor Talent Development Plan' will be held in conjunction with the launch ceremony.

The ministry plans to expand the designation of specialized universities to other advanced strategic industries such as secondary batteries and displays beyond semiconductors. Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "This third Advanced Strategic Industry Committee is meaningful in establishing a super-gap innovation ecosystem by designating advanced strategic industry specialized complexes and specialized universities," adding, "The government will continue to pursue the 'three major strategies for advanced industry promotion,' including the designation of advanced strategic industries, expansion of investment tax credits, designation of 15 national industrial complexes, and the establishment of stable supply chains through new designation of materials-parts-equipment specialized complexes."