'Semiconductor Ultra-Pure Water Localization' Council Fully Launched... First Meeting on the 26th

Government, R&D Lead Agencies, Industry, Technology Users, and Experts Gather to Explore 'Ultrapure Water Technology Development' Strategies

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 25th that it will hold the first meeting of a consultative body for the localization of semiconductor ultrapure water on the afternoon of the 26th at the Korea Water Resources Corporation Han River Basin Headquarters, together with the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute and the Korea Water Forum.

The Ministry of Environment organized this meeting to discuss cooperation and activation plans during the process of promoting the "Development of Localization Technology for Semiconductor Ultrapure Water Production (2021?2025)," one of the key tasks of the "13th Innovation Growth BIG 3 Promotion Meeting" held on the 29th of last month.

The development of localization technology for the semiconductor ultrapure water production process is a commercialization research and development project supported by the Ministry of Environment to respond to Japan's export regulations in the semiconductor sector. A total of 48 billion KRW is being invested in five projects to localize the ultrapure water production process, aiming to break free from dependence on overseas technology and revitalize the domestic industry.

The ultrapure water market, including design, construction, and operation, was approximately 1 trillion KRW domestically and 19.3 trillion KRW globally as of 2018. The UK-based water specialist research organization Global Water Intelligence (GWI) forecasts that by 2024, these markets will grow to 1.4 trillion KRW and 23.1 trillion KRW, respectively.

This meeting will include in-depth discussions among stakeholders from industry, academia, research institutes, and government, featuring presentations on industrial technology development support by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute and Korea Water Resources Corporation, plans for demonstration facility (plant) construction, and localization and activation strategies.

The Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, which manages the research and development project, has presented an implementation plan (roadmap) and support plans for each task since September 2019 to respond to Japan's export regulations in the semiconductor sector. Korea Water Resources Corporation, which oversees the research and development execution, will present the necessity of integrated localization technology development covering design, construction, and operation beyond just ultrapure water product localization, as well as the activation of the ultrapure water industry through collaboration with technology demand entities.

At this meeting, Company A, which recently decided to provide a site for the demonstration facility (plant), will convey requests for cooperation to the government and related organizations, including site and building provision for the demonstration facility construction as a technology demand entity and plans to apply the technology to actual plants after localization.

Song Yong-kwon, Director of the Water Industry Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Environment, said, "Through the development of semiconductor ultrapure water technology, we plan to break away from dependence on overseas technologies and products while establishing a foothold for the overseas market entry of related water industries." He added, "We will continue close consultations with research and development institutions and related industries to ensure the success of localization and commercialization of semiconductor ultrapure water production technology."

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