Fabless semiconductors are a technology-based sector within the system semiconductor industry. While they have significant growth potential, with the emergence of innovative startups, they still represent a significant portion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in terms of sales and operating profits. Consequently, government agencies and relevant industry, academia, and research institutes are actively working to address the key challenges facing fabless companies in areas such as funding, human resources, and collaboration.

On the 26th, Vice Minister Cho Joo-hyun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) visited the Seoul National University Semiconductor Joint Research Center, toured the semiconductor process training site, and held a meeting with officials including the director of the System Semiconductor Industry Promotion Center.

This visit was arranged to gather opinions from relevant parties to address the shortage of semiconductor personnel required in the field and to discuss co-hosting a 'System Semiconductor Professional Job Fair' in November of this year.

In particular, in relation to the shortage of manpower in fabless industries, a semiconductor design specialized course was established for all students at the National Meister High School (Gumi Electronic Technical High School) starting last year, and through industry-academia cooperation with semiconductor companies, 20 students were employed at domestic fabless companies after completing the course.

also, We are currently operating two contract departments for small and medium-sized enterprises in the semiconductor field (Myongji University and Kongju University), and plan to establish two more by the end of this year to train mid- to high-level semiconductor experts.

In addition, starting next year, two semiconductor business units will be added to the "Technical Officer Training Project," which systematically trains on-site technical and technical personnel for semiconductor SMEs through a two-year joint education program at specialized high schools and vocational colleges.

This November, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Seoul National University will co-host a "System Semiconductor Professional Job Fair." Participation is open to a wide range of companies, not just fabless companies, involved in the system semiconductor industry. The fair aims to increase employment rates by pre-matching students preparing for employment at national Meister high schools, specialized high schools for small and medium-sized enterprises, contracted departments, and technical officer programs with companies.

Vice Minister Cho Joo-hyun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, “The most important task that must be resolved with the highest priority in the system semiconductor field is the training and supply of specialized personnel,” and added, “We will push forward the system semiconductor field personnel training project under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups without a hitch, and we hope that the system semiconductor specialized personnel recruitment fair that we are jointly hosting this year will help resolve the shortage of personnel in the field.”

Meanwhile, there are active efforts to create a system semiconductor ecosystem, such as holding the 'Fabless Challenge' competition in cooperation with Samsung Foundry in July to support prototype production, a major challenge for small and medium-sized fabless companies.