Following US President Joe Biden's recent visit to Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek campus, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been actively meeting with global figures, including meeting with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger during his visit to Seoul to discuss cooperation plans.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is busy with his European business trip, including meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, Netherlands on the 14th (local time), and then moving to Eindhoven to visit ASML headquarters.

On this day, Vice Chairman Lee visited The Hague, Netherlands, and met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte. This was their first meeting in six years, since 2016. During the meeting, they discussed comprehensive and strategic cooperation plans, including expanding cooperation to strengthen cutting-edge foundry capabilities and addressing global semiconductor supply chain issues.

The core of this business trip to the Netherlands is securing stable EUV (extreme ultraviolet) exposure equipment, which is the core of cutting-edge semiconductor processes. The vice chairman said he visited ASML's headquarters in the Netherlands on the same day and met with executives including CEO Peter Wennink and CTO Martin van den Brink to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two companies.

Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and ASML executives reportedly discussed a wide range of topics, including future semiconductor technology trends, semiconductor market outlook, smooth supply and demand of EUV exposure equipment essential for implementing fine processes for next-generation semiconductor production, and the mid- to long-term business directions of both companies.





EUV lithography equipment, essential for semiconductor microfabrication, is a must-have for companies seeking to survive in the cutting-edge semiconductor market. Intel has already secured the latest EUV lithography equipment, the EUV 0.55NA, and it is expected to be supplied to Intel by 2024. It is expected to be used in the ultra-fine 18A (1.8nm) process starting in 2025. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics visited the Netherlands during his European business trip because securing EUV equipment is crucial to the semiconductor industry.

Following Intel, TSMC and Samsung are expected to secure the next EUV 0.55NA, and a fierce competition is underway to secure it. As SK Hynix, Micron, and others are also moving to introduce EUV processes, ASML's position as a "super B" is expected to further strengthen. ASML CEO Bennink recently said, “We plan to produce more semiconductor manufacturing equipment this year and increase shipments next year, but it seems difficult to resolve the supply shortage of EUV lithography equipment for at least two years.”




The following day, on the 15th (local time), Vice Chairman Lee visited Leuven, Belgium, and met with CEO Luc Van den Hove at imec, the largest integrated semiconductor research institute in Europe, to discuss the latest technologies in the semiconductor field and the direction of research and development.

In addition to cutting-edge semiconductor process technology, the vice president heard about the cutting-edge research projects currently being conducted at imec in areas such as artificial intelligence, life sciences, and future energy, and toured the research and development site.

Samsung Electronics announced that it plans to “enhance competitiveness in the foundry sector by expanding semiconductor research and development and investment, strengthening technological cooperation with ASML, and advancing next-generation semiconductor production technologies, including EUV, while further widening the ‘super gap’ in the memory semiconductor sector.”

Meanwhile, interest is growing as to whether Samsung Electronics will pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Since the 9 trillion won acquisition of Harman in 2017, there have been no major mergers or acquisitions. Recently, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee responded positively to the press following the 32nd Samsung Ho-Am Prize Awards Ceremony Dinner, raising concerns about Samsung Electronics' future expansion.