The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has embarked on global cooperation to develop silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors and 6G low-carbon semiconductors.

On the 8th, at the Korea-US Technology Cooperation Forum hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Advancement (KIAT) at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) agreed to cooperate with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Coherent of the United States on the development of next-generation semiconductor materials and components technology and global industrialization.

In the future, the institutions will primarily cooperate in the fields of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor power devices, next-generation optical communication devices and system technologies, 5G and 6G semiconductor devices and components, and global technology commercialization.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by ETRI President Kim Myung-joon, KAIST Global Commercialization Center (GCC) Director Choi Moon-ki, and Coherent, Inc. CEO Vincent Mattera.

Under the research cooperation, each institution explores methods for cooperative exchange related to next-generation semiconductor technology, and research on the low-carbon and high-energy efficiency of next-generation SiC semiconductor power devices and optical components. Real-time collaboration in the process is expected to be possible.

Through the MOU, the three institutions plan to cooperate in developing leading eco-friendly, low-carbon semiconductor foundational technologies that can be utilized in future automobiles and 6G future telecommunications businesses based on optical communication, as well as joint industry-academia-research projects for global technology industrialization.

In addition, the three institutions agreed to strive for the promotion of international joint research on optical devices and SiC semiconductor power devices, as well as the identification of joint research project items, personnel exchange, seminars between institutions, exchange of technical information, and commercialization of technology.

"Based on this collaboration among the three institutions, we plan to strengthen our global research capabilities to meet future semiconductor demands in fields such as next-generation semiconductors like electric vehicles and 6G mobile communications, and focus on joint global commercialization and marketing," said ETRI President Kim Myung-joon.

Meanwhile, Coherent was founded in California, USA in 1966 and is headquartered in Pennsylvania. As of last year, it is one of the major global manufacturers of semiconductor materials and components, with $3.1 billion in revenue, 22,000 employees, and over 2,200 technology patents.