Project Selected to Establish System Semiconductor Infrastructure for Advanced Defense Industry
President Yoon: "We Will Build a System Semiconductor R&D Demonstration Center"
Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province has been selected for the 2024 Industrial Innovation Infrastructure Establishment Project by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and localization of components and materials for advanced system semiconductors used in the defense industry.
'System semiconductors for the defense industry' refer to semiconductors that are optimized, designed, and manufactured for advanced applications in defense-related fields such as weapon systems and electronic warfare. This term encompasses semiconductors used in various equipment, modules, and components operated for military purposes.
Defense semiconductors have recently attracted attention due to the development of unmanned and manned complex weapon systems and changes in warfare patterns brought about by advances in IT technology. As semiconductors used in weapon systems, they require high reliability and high performance, and due to the high entry barriers characteristic of the defense industry, the development of localization technology is urgently needed.
President Yoon Suk Yeol stated at a public forum held at Yeungnam University on the 20th, "We will establish an R&D demonstration center in Gumi by 2026 for system semiconductor design verification and more," and added, "We will also expand facilities for the manufacturing, design, and demonstration of semiconductor materials and components to match the reputation of the specialized semiconductor complex."
With this selection, the city will receive 10 billion KRW in national funding by 2028. Under the leadership of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Gumi will collaborate with competent institutions in each field to establish a comprehensive support system for the entire lifecycle of defense semiconductor components, including infrastructure building, technical services, commercialization support, dissemination, design, manufacturing, packaging, modularization, and reliability assessment.
The 'Gyeongbuk Gumi Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Components Specialized Complex' and the 'Gyeongbuk Gumi Defense Industry Innovation Cluster', both designated last year, along with the recent 'Opportunity Development Zone', are creating a synergistic effect, providing momentum for building an advanced industrial ecosystem.
Going forward, the city plans to focus on industrial policies such as the semiconductor complex and the materials and components testing and evaluation center to foster the semiconductor materials, components, and equipment industry. To make Gumi a 'K-Semiconductor Core City', the city will promote various projects that combine the semiconductor industry with local industrial strengths to become a next-generation growth engine.
Mayor Kim Jangho said, "Gumi City has continuously worked to discover new industries that leverage the strengths of local industry, attract anchor company investments, and foster medium-sized and small but strong enterprises to find new growth engines. As a result, we have been selected for projects such as microdisplays, the DGIST Graduate School of Engineering Gumi Campus, and now the defense semiconductor project. We will continue to dedicate all our efforts to nurturing Gumi's five major future industries, represented by semiconductors."
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