Semes Semiconductor Cleaning Technology Designated as National Core Technology

Semes, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer, announced on July 8 that its semiconductor cleaning process technology has been designated as a National Core Technology by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, with evaluation and management conducted by the Korea Industrial Technology Protection Association.

Semes semiconductor batch-type wet cleaning equipment Lotus. Photo by Semes

National Core Technology refers to industrial technology that possesses high technical and economic value, and whose leakage overseas could cause significant harm to the country. This designation system was introduced in 2007 to prevent both domestic and international leakage and to ensure protection. Under the government's technology protection policy, individuals involved in the unauthorized leakage of such technology are subject to legal penalties.

Semes's semiconductor cleaning process technology encompasses design, process, device, and three-dimensional stacking formation technologies that are applied to DRAM with feature sizes of 30 nanometers (1nm = one hundred-millionth of a meter) or less, foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing), as well as stacked 3D NAND flash with 64 layers or more.

With this designation, Semes has been recognized as a company possessing the world's leading semiconductor cleaning process technology. To protect this technology, Semes is actively strengthening its technology protection regulations with partner companies, restricting access to technical documents, and enhancing security inspections and infrastructure.

Semes CEO Shim Sangpil stated, "As the importance of protecting and fostering industrial technology continues to grow, we will continue to protect our core process technologies and, through applications for National Strategic Advanced Technology that allow us to receive various government support benefits, strive to become a company with the highest level of technological capabilities."