As efforts to foster the domestic semiconductor ecosystem intensify, the investment environment is weakening due to inflation and rising interest rates, threatening to create challenges for corporate management. In response, a forum has been established to share investment and support strategies and expertise in the system semiconductor sector, particularly fabless companies.

The Seoul National University System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center held its second System Semiconductor Symbiosis Forum at the Seoul National University Faculty Hall on the 26th. The forum focused on investment and support for global expansion.

At this forum, Song Myeong-su, CEO of Pen Ventures Korea, Kim Se-ho, CEO of Interest, and Kim Ki-tae, Vice President of the Technology Guarantee Fund, participated as speakers and gave lectures and panel discussions.

Kim Se-ho, CEO of Interest, introduced the technology venture support program and explained, “Before 2015, government support and investment/startups were out of sync. However, since then, private investment funds have been utilized in government policy support projects, and private know-how has begun to be incorporated into government policies and projects.” Therefore, the recent situation is that when private investment is low, government investment also declines.

For package support programs, he advised focusing on the Preliminary, Early-Stage, and Startup Leap Packages. For R&D, he recommended linking the Stepping Stone-Strategic Project or TIPS track of the Startup Growth Technology Development Project. CEO Kim advised, "Stepping Stone projects take a long time, so if you want a fast track, jump right into the Strategic or TIPS track." He explained that this would then lead to the Post-TIPS or Baby Unicorn track.

The panel discussion included Vice President Kim Jeong-wook of DeepX, Vice President Jeong Dong-cheol of Baum, CEO Song Myeong-su, CEO Kim Se-ho, Vice President Kim Ki-tae, Head of Seoul National University Technology Holding Company Headquarters Lee Eung-gyu, and Vice President Jeon Jin-won of We Ventures, who discussed investment strategies from the perspectives of companies and investment institutions.

Due to recent complex international circumstances and inflation, the supply and demand for industrial funds has been challenging, and the US Federal Reserve's interest rate hike has significantly impacted the stock market. Vice President Jeon Jin-won commented on the weakened investment market sentiment, saying, "Investing in companies valued at over 100 billion won is virtually impossible."

In a shrinking investment environment and a poor market, it seems that there are no companies that can succeed. When asked what indicators other than financial indicators can be used to ensure success in these difficult times, Vice President Kim Ki-tae emphasized, “You need to be able to present the level of your core technology.” He advised that core technological capabilities should be expressed in numbers, and above all, that they should be compared and presented with the industry's leading competitor.

Regarding ESG investment trends, CEO Kim Se-ho stated, "There seems to be a somewhat diminished sense of importance for ESG this year." He cited the slowdown in annual growth rates in government policy budget allocation as evidence. He predicted that this decline in importance was due to changes in administration, and that local governments, unable to independently execute projects, would also see a reduction in related projects amidst the central government's hesitation.

Meanwhile, the BIG3 Innovation Field Startup Package Support Project hosted by the Seoul National University System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center will select 14 new companies this year and provide support for three years, and approximately 50 companies selected in 2020 are about to graduate in their third year this year.

Professor Choi Ki-chang stated, “We anticipate that the number of new companies selected next year will be the same as this year’s, and we will also consider expanding into key sectors such as the Big 5 and Big 7 in addition to system semiconductors, bio/health, and future vehicles.”