Strengthening Semiconductor Ecosystem Through Open Innovation
Annual Investment of 100 Billion Won in Industry-Academia Collaboration Reinforcement
Samsung Electronics Infrastructure Provided Free of Charge
On August 14th, Samsung Electronics held an industry-academia cooperation agreement ceremony at Seoul National University with Seoul National University Acting President Park Chan-wook, Samsung Electronics CEO Kim Ki-nam, and other key stakeholders in attendance for the advancement of the domestic semiconductor field and cultivation of future talent.

Samsung Electronics announced on the 8th through its presentation on 'Economic Revitalization and Job Creation Plans' that it would invest 100 billion won in industry-academia funds, and plans to significantly expand industry-academia collaboration with major domestic universities starting with Seoul National University.

In particular, Samsung Electronics has substantially increased annual industry-academia collaboration investment with domestic universities in this field and established a new 'Industry-Academia Cooperation Center' as a dedicated organization for operating industry-academia programs to prepare the groundwork for qualitative growth of the domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

The expanded domestic industry-academia collaboration areas are divided into three main categories: ▲Support for basic science research including physics, mathematics, and chemistry ▲Promotion of semiconductor field professor recruitment and expansion of master's/doctoral scholarships ▲Free provision of Samsung Electronics advanced equipment infrastructure for semiconductor field research. Existing industry-academia collaboration programs that had been conducted primarily in engineering colleges will also be strengthened.

Semiconductors are a core industry of the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' with increasing importance in AI, 5G, IoT, and other fields, requiring talent across diverse areas from basic science to engineering.

However, because significant costs and considerable time are required to generate research results, the number of semiconductor-related professors and students entering master's/doctoral programs at universities are declining every year, creating difficulties in securing excellent talent with expertise.

If this situation continues, the future of the semiconductor industry, which holds an important position as a national strategic industry, will inevitably be shaken.

To overcome this, Samsung Electronics improves the research and development environment at universities and establishes a quality industry-academia collaboration ecosystem that fosters capable future talent needed in the field, thereby contributing to overcoming technological limits and advancing national science and technology.

Samsung Electronics CEO and DS Division Head Kim Ki-nam stated, "For the semiconductor industry to develop, it is very important to activate academic research at universities, which form the foundation, and create an ecosystem capable of continuous talent cultivation. We hope that through expanded industry-academia collaboration, we can contribute to the advancement of our country's science and technology and the semiconductor industry."

Professor Kim Sung-chul, Director of Research at Seoul National University, said, "Samsung Electronics' support such as free provision of research infrastructure will greatly help improve the level of semiconductor research at the university. If academia and our companies work together, we will be able to resolve various challenges surrounding semiconductors at present."

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics is working to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor industry, including investing 50 billion won in the 'Semiconductor Growth Fund' that invests in domestic semiconductor small and medium-sized enterprises in 2017.