Korea-US Semiconductor Association MOU... Establishment of 'AI Semiconductor Innovation Center'

On the 27th (local time) in Washington D.C., USA, at the 'Korea-US Supply Chain and Industry Dialogue Semiconductor Forum,' Kim Jeonghoe, Vice Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, and John Neuffer, Chairman of the US Semiconductor Industry Association, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for semiconductor supply chain cooperation while An Deokgeun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce, observed. Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 27th that the 'Korea-US Supply Chain and Industry Dialogue (SCCD) Semiconductor Forum,' jointly hosted by the semiconductor associations of both countries, was held in Washington D.C., USA, with Minister An Deok-geun and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in attendance. The two countries had agreed to establish a forum involving both public and private sectors to strengthen semiconductor cooperation during the '1st Korea-US Supply Chain and Industry Dialogue' held last April during the US state visit.

The forum was attended by major semiconductor companies and institutions from both countries, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Intel, IBM, Synopsys, Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and Anbest Korea. Participants reviewed the current status of key semiconductor industry issues such as technology development, workforce training, and supply chain stability, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation.

The semiconductor associations of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for semiconductor supply chain cooperation and agreed to regularize the semiconductor forum, promote business cooperation in emerging markets such as artificial intelligence (AI), and collaborate on technology development, workforce training, and investment activation.

In his opening remarks, Minister An stated, "We will support technological cooperation between the two countries through expanded global research and development (R&D) investment and the newly established 'Korea-US Industrial Technology Cooperation Center,' while jointly addressing workforce shortages by expanding exchanges of master's, doctoral, and young talent." He added, "I hope that the 'Korea-US AI Semiconductor Innovation Center,' to be established in the US later this year, will contribute to revitalizing exchanges between the industries of both countries."

The Korea Semiconductor Association will establish an 'AI Semiconductor Innovation Center' in Silicon Valley (San Jose), USA, to support domestic system semiconductor companies' entry into the US market, with full-scale operations beginning in early September. The center plans to support domestic system semiconductor companies' US market entry by hosting fabless, design house, and intellectual property (IP) companies, as well as facilitating exchanges with local experts.