Hàn Quốc tung ra 834 triệu đô la để thúc đẩy hệ sinh thái bán dẫn AI

Seoul, August 15, 2023 – The South Korean government is set to launch a substantial semiconductor ecosystem fund in the third quarter of this year, focusing on supporting the growth of fabless chip design companies through scale-ups and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This initiative is a key component of the government’s strategy to expand the country’s semiconductor value chain beyond memory chips, encompassing system semiconductors and materials, parts, and equipment sectors.

First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Park Sung-taek, announced the initiative during a meeting with AI chip supply companies, including Furiosa AI, on August 14. Representatives from major conglomerates like Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, and Hanwha Systems, who are actively integrating AI into their core industries, also participated in the meeting.

The fund, initially established in July 2022, comprises 300 billion won from semiconductor companies, policy financing, and private investments. The government aims to increase this to 1.1 trillion won by 2025, with actual equity investments commencing in the third quarter of this year.

“We must redesign all industries from an AI perspective,” stated Park. “As the core of AI lies in customized, high-performance, and low-power system semiconductors, the government will provide all necessary support for semiconductor companies to succeed.”

Beyond financial support, the government is implementing several initiatives to bolster the industry:

• AI Semiconductor Collaboration Forum: This forum, established in 2023, brings together 11 industry-specific demand companies and 31 IP, fabless, design house, and software firms. The forum aims to develop “edge semiconductors” with high market impact, providing support throughout the development process, from field demonstration to actual application.
• System Semiconductor Verification Support Center: Opening next month in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, this center will provide access to expensive equipment crucial for AI chip design and verification.
• Korea-U.S. AI Semiconductor Center in Silicon Valley: This center will support the overseas expansion of Korean fabless companies.
• University Design Program Enhancement: The government plans to strengthen semiconductor design programs in universities and establish new training courses for design engineers, equipping them with the skills needed for immediate field deployment.

These initiatives are part of a comprehensive support plan for the system semiconductor industry in the AI era, set to be announced later this year. The government’s commitment to this ambitious plan signifies its determination to solidify South Korea’s position as a global leader in the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor landscape.