The domestic system semiconductor industry has fired a signal flare for full-scale ecosystem activation this year. Around 30 fabless companies selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project' gathered together to discuss industrial promotion and market expansion.

The first System Semiconductor Symbiosis Forum of 2023 was held at the Seoul National University Faculty Hall on the 17th. This event, hosted by Seoul National University's System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center, brought together fabless industry insiders with the main theme of 'Accompanying, exchange between fabless senior and junior companies.'

This event, in which 35 domestic fabless companies participated, had time for introductions by each company, including Rebellion, Scenic, and Persona AI, which were selected for the system semiconductor division of the 'Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project', and Semifive, Padu, Furiosa AI, Qualitas Semiconductor, and SkyChips, which were selected for follow-up support for the Super Gap Startup Fostering Project, also attended.

The newly selected fabless companies will receive a total of KRW 1.1 billion in direct support, including up to KRW 600 million in commercialization funds and KRW 500 million in R&D funds depending on corporate needs over the next three years. In addition, free Arm IP support, free EDA tool support, and other services such as business networking, marketing, human resources, and technology consulting will be provided.

Companies selected for follow-up support will receive up to KRW 1 billion in commercialization funds for global scale-up over the next two years.

The following 25 companies were newly selected for the system semiconductor sector of the 'Super Gap Startup 1000+ Project': Bose Semiconductor, Solid View, Hyper Excel, Banam Corporation, Unicorn, Sensonia, Aimfuture, Alpha Solutions, AP Labs, Good Intelligence, Barco Solutions, Sejongpia, iChip Corporation, Rebellion, More, Lab Up Corporation, Hibo, RC Tech, Garage Engineering, FLC, MYC, Soteria, Vitri, Perosona AI, and Scenic.

Choi Ki-chang, director of the System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center at Seoul National University, said, “As the main organization supporting the System Semiconductor Innovation and Startup Package, we support the activation of the fabless ecosystem by holding the Symbiosis Forum four times a year,” and “At the next Symbiosis Forum, we plan to provide a networking opportunity with demand companies, including large and mid-sized companies.”>
Penn Ventures Korea, the lead organization for the 2023 Ultra-Gap Startup 1000+ Project Investment Attraction, said, “We plan to increase the possibility by conducting preliminary work with a demand matching strategy to increase the probability of investment connection matchup.”

The Korea Standards Association also said, “As an accelerator, we will support the fostering of startups and create a demand-matching connection point with large corporations by operating a startup selection company directory book, matching day, and global bridge for large and medium-sized companies as a global collaboration support organization for the project.”