In four major fields: mobile, automobile, bio, and public.
Sensor technology required for data collection and processing
Support for prototype production and establishment of reliability assessment foundation


Sensors are components that detect external stimuli and convert them into electrical signals. As the data economy expands, the global demand for sensors is expected to exceed 1 trillion by 2024. The related market is expected to grow by an average of more than 11% annually from $193.9 billion in 2020 to $332.8 billion in 2025, and the United States, Germany, Japan, etc. are promoting related support policies.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 13th that it will be promoting the 'K-Sensor Technology Development for Market Leadership' (hereafter referred to as the K-Sensor Technology Development Project) starting this year. Through this project, which is being carried out as a large-scale R&D follow-up measure to the 'K-Semiconductor Strategy' announced on May 13th, the government plans to invest 186.5 billion won in strengthening sensor competitiveness over the next seven years (2022-2028).

The K-Sensor Technology Development Project aims to secure global sensor competitiveness by supporting demand-based technology development and growth infrastructure construction in four major fields: mobile, automobile, bio, and public.

First, we support securing core technologies and entering the global market through market-competitive, future-leading, sensor platform R&D. Through market-competitive R&D, we support the development of demand-linked technologies such as biometric sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, radar, and lidar that can secure mid- to long-term competitiveness in four major fields, thereby promoting domestic companies’ entry into the global sensor market.

Future-leading R&D predicts future demand and technology development directions, and supports securing next-generation sensor element core technologies based on these. Sensor platform R&D develops sensor-based technologies to respond to future industrial demand and convergence technology developments such as form-factor free, connected, AI, low power, and convergence. It includes flexible materials and elements, SoC for communication, SW and sensor intelligence, energy management, and sensor-semiconductor convergence.

Second, we will secure a manufacturing innovation platform that supports sensor prototype manufacturing and reliability evaluation, and develop MEMS element process technology required for advanced MEMS sensor manufacturing. The manufacturing innovation platform will be established in existing semiconductor infrastructure such as the Nano Comprehensive Technology Institute in Daejeon.

Thirdly, we support overseas marketing to promote domestic sensor companies’ entry into the global market. A K-Sensor Global Team will be formed within the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association to provide consulting on overseas market information, local trends, product promotion, etc. in the US, China, and Japan. We support participation in international sensor exhibitions to expand the global market that our companies can enter, and we also support the development of standardization and certification technology for regions where domestic companies wish to enter overseas.

In order to promote the above content, the government gave final approval for the feasibility of the K-Sensor Technology Development Project through the National Research and Development Project Evaluation General Committee held at 2:00 PM on August 13.