SK Group is partnering with NVIDIA to embark on a full-scale expansion of its global AI ecosystem, including AI Cloud, AI Factory, expanded HBM4 supply, and AI-RAN.

SK announced on the 31st that it will build a 'Manufacturing AI Cloud' with NVIDIA to lead the digital transformation of the domestic manufacturing ecosystem.

This marks the first commercialization of a manufacturing AI cloud utilizing NVIDIA's Omniverse platform in Asia, and it will be opened to domestic startups and public institutions to foster the manufacturing AI ecosystem.

The manufacturing AI cloud is utilized at SK Hynix's Icheon Campus and Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, based on over 2,000 of NVIDIA's latest GPUs (RTX Pro™ 6000 Blackwell Server Edition) introduced by SK Hynix.

SK Telecom oversees the construction, operation, and services of the cloud, providing performance and data security optimized for the domestic manufacturing industry.

Omniverse is NVIDIA's digital twin platform that replicates actual manufacturing processes in a 3D virtual space to perform simulations.

Through this, effects such as improved yield, enhanced equipment maintenance efficiency, and cost reduction are expected, and domestic manufacturing startups and companiesIt is also expected to contribute to strengthening their AI capabilities.

SK Group is building an 'AI Factory' in Korea utilizing over 50,000 GPUs in partnership with NVIDIA. This factory is part of an 'AI industry cluster' that includes a manufacturing AI cloud and the Ulsan AI data center project. The plan is to develop Ulsan into an Asia-Pacific AI hub by establishing a 100MW hyperscale AI data center by 2027.

AI Factory is an industrial AI service supply platform equipped with digital twin, robot, large language model (LLM), and 3D simulation capabilities, and is expected to play a key role in strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing industry.

SK Hynix, a key partner of NVIDIA's AI memory, has finalized supply agreements for HBM4, which supports the industry's highest speed and performance following HBM3 and HBM3E, and will begin expanding sales in earnest starting in the fourth quarter.

SK Hynix continues to maintain its position as a key supplier in the AI memory market based on its world-class HBM technology.

SK Telecom has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NVIDIA for the research and development of 'AI networks' and is embarking on the development of 'AI-RAN (Radio Access Network),' a core technology for 6th generation (6G) mobile communication. AI-RAN is a technology that transmits AI data generated from various devices over wireless networks at high speed and low latency, and is considered an essential communication infrastructure for the implementation of physical AI-based services.

Samsung Electronics, Yonsei University, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) are also participating in this collaboration, and the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to support AI-RAN R&D and the construction of a demonstration network starting next year. SK Telecom also plans to actively seek out AI services specialized for AI-RAN.

SK Group and NVIDIA are also collaborating with venture capital firms such as IMM Investment, Korea Investment Partners, and SBVA to foster manufacturing AI startups. The manufacturing AI cloud is the only unified implementation and operation case in Korea and is open to external customers, including government and public institutions and startups.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stated, “AI is an engine of innovation that transcends the limits of scale, speed, and precision across industries,” adding, “We will build infrastructure to run next-generation memory, robotics, digital twins, and intelligent AI agents based on NVIDIA AI Factory.”

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated, “In the era of AI, a new type of manufacturing plant called the AI Factory has emerged,” adding, “SK Group is NVIDIA’s core memory technology partner, and together we are building AI infrastructure to revitalize the Korean AI ecosystem.”