Government Launches Large-Scale Preliminary Feasibility Study for 'K-Semiconductor Strategy' Project

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government is set to actively promote the large-scale preliminary feasibility study (PFS) projects included in the 'K Semiconductor Strategy' announced last month.

On the 10th, the government held the 11th Innovation Growth Big 3 Promotion Meeting and concretized the plan to advance five large-scale PFS projects outlined in the 'K Semiconductor Strategy.'

The PFS target projects include ▲ Establishing a mass-production testbed within the materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) specialized complex ▲ Building an advanced packaging platform ▲ Large-scale manpower training through public-private joint investment ▲ Market-leading 'K Sensor' technology development ▲ Processing In Memory (PIM) AI semiconductor technology development project.

Among these, the advanced K Sensor technology development and PIM technology development are currently undergoing the main PFS, and once completed, the projects will commence next year after consultations with budget authorities.

Infrastructure projects such as the SoBuJang mass-production testbed and advanced packaging platform for building the K-Semiconductor Belt, as well as large-scale manpower training projects, will be promoted starting in 2023.

The mass-production testbed will comprehensively support semiconductor SoBuJang companies from testing and evaluation, consulting to mass production process testing, and is planned to be established within the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. The advanced packaging platform will provide one-stop support for prototype production, testing, evaluation, and certification, equipped with about 90 types of equipment. Both projects plan to apply for PFS in the second half of this year.

The public-private joint investment manpower training project involves companies and the government investing equally while universities and research institutes conduct R&D tasks, training master's and doctoral-level personnel in the process. Although it failed to pass the final PFS in the third quarter of last year, the government decided to reapply for PFS in the third quarter of this year considering the manpower shortage situation in companies. The project scale will also be expanded from the existing 300 billion KRW to 350 billion KRW.

Park Jin-gyu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, stated, "Based on active cooperation among various related ministries, we will faithfully implement follow-up tasks for realizing a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse, including tax credits, budget securing, financial support, and system improvements."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.