Lee Jae-yong's Determination for 'New Samsung' on US Business Trip: "Let's Pioneer a Future No One Has Explored" (Comprehensive)

Expanding Focus on Future Industries Like Bio, Telecom, AI, and Software in Semiconductors

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is departing through the Gimpo Airport Business Aviation Center in Gangseo-gu on the 14th./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, currently on a business trip to the United States, is concretizing plans for the 'New Samsung' by meeting consecutively with executives and stakeholders in future strategic industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation communications, software, and bio. Taking this opportunity, he expressed his determination by saying, "Let's pioneer a future no one has ventured into and create a new Samsung."

Visit to Samsung's Future Innovation Forward Base
Urging Bold Change and Challenge

According to business circles and Samsung Electronics on the 23rd, Vice Chairman Lee visited the semiconductor and set research centers in Silicon Valley, California?DS America (DSA) and Samsung Research America (SRA)?on the 21st and 22nd (local time) to check the development status of next-generation core technologies such as AI and 6G and to encourage researchers. At the meeting, he urged, "We cannot overcome this massive transformation period by merely 'widening the gap' with companies chasing or following us. It will be difficult and painful, but let's make the impossible possible."

DSA and SRA are advanced research organizations of Samsung Electronics' DS Division and Set (IM·CE) Division, respectively, leading innovation and serving as forward bases for discovering 'future growth engines.' Vice Chairman Lee reportedly told the researchers, "As the map of the future world and industry is being newly drawn, our survival environment is dramatically changing," and urged them to "accelerate innovation efforts." This is interpreted as emphasizing the will for the 'New Samsung,' meaning to go beyond the 'super-gap' strategy that brought Samsung to the global stage and to be reborn as a company pioneering a future no one has gone before.

A business insider evaluated, "This U.S. trip seems to reaffirm Vice Chairman Lee's determination to start bold changes and challenges toward the 'New Samsung' with the resolve of a founder."

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (left) is taking a commemorative photo with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, USA, on the 22nd (local time).
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Discussion on Cooperation in Next-Generation ICT and Software Fields with Google Executives

On the 22nd (local time), Vice Chairman Lee also visited Google's headquarters and met with executives including CEO Sundar Pichai. It is reported that they discussed cooperation plans in next-generation ICT and software innovation fields such as system semiconductors, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), autonomous driving, and platform revolution.

According to industry sources, Google plans to have Samsung Electronics manufacture chips for its smartphone 'Pixel Series 6,' scheduled for production by the end of this year, which will be equipped with Google's self-designed application processor (AP). This visit by Vice Chairman Lee is expected to strengthen the collaborative relationship between the two companies.

Earlier, Samsung Electronics declared the 'System Semiconductor Vision 2030,' aiming to secure global leadership in the system semiconductor sector following memory semiconductors. Accordingly, there is speculation that Google, known as the so-called 'Android alliance,' will play the role of an ally.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (right) is taking a commemorative photo with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, at Microsoft's headquarters in Washington State, USA, on the 20th (local time).
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Broad Activities to Explore New Samsung and the Future

During this trip, Vice Chairman Lee undertook a 'broad activity' crossing the U.S. East and West Coasts, focusing not only on the core semiconductor business but also on Samsung's 'future growth businesses' such as bio, 5G, and AI. Notably, he previously visited Microsoft (MS) and Amazon consecutively to share strategies and discuss cooperation plans related to key fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI, cloud computing, and mobile revolution.

On the 16th and 17th, he held consecutive 'business meetings' with Noubar Afeyan, co-founder and chairman of Moderna's board, and Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, discussing cooperation plans in bio and next-generation mobile communications fields, respectively.

To finalize issues related to the new foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plant Samsung Electronics plans to build in the U.S. with an investment of $17 billion (about 20 trillion KRW), he also met consecutively with key White House aides and federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. At these meetings, they exchanged views on Samsung Electronics' role in resolving global semiconductor supply chain issues and reportedly requested active support from the administration and legislature for the semiconductor industry. Samsung Electronics is expected to finalize and announce the location of the new foundry plant soon.

Business circles anticipate that through this trip, Vice Chairman Lee has laid the foundation for new growth businesses and reactivated global networks with various business partners, accelerating Samsung's transformation and new leap forward.

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