Gyeongbuk Province Emerges as a Rising Star in 'Wide Bandgap Next-Generation Semiconductors'... Accelerates Development Efforts

Expansion Model of K-Semiconductor Strategy Presented Centered on WBG

Proactive Response to Paradigm Shift from Memory Semiconductors to Wide Bandgap Semiconductors

Wide Bandgap Basic Direction (Triangle Belt).

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Gyeongsangbuk-do is witnessing the rapid rise of ‘wide bandgap semiconductors’ that possess superior characteristics such as ultra-high speed, high efficiency, high temperature, and extreme environment resistance compared to conventional silicon-based semiconductors.

‘Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors’ are next-generation semiconductors produced from semiconductor materials with a larger bandgap (the space where electrons do not exist) than silicon, such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and gallium oxide (Ga2O3).

With the acceleration of global carbon neutrality policies, traditional industries like TVs, mobile phones, and electric vehicles face demands for higher power efficiency, increased power density, and extended battery life. Wide bandgap semiconductors with excellent physical properties are gaining attention as a solution to these challenges.

Gyeongbuk Province is focusing on the growth potential of the wide bandgap semiconductor industry centered around local companies in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region such as SK Siltron, KEC, LG Innotek, Yes Power Technics, and L&D, while expanding related company attraction and investment.

The Daegu-Gyeongbuk area hosts numerous leading companies and startups related to compound semiconductors, including materials, components, equipment, fabless, testing, and packaging, centered around research institutions such as Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Institute, Pohang Nano Convergence Technology Institute, and Kyungpook National University Semiconductor Convergence Technology Institute.

Additionally, Daegu-Gyeongbuk is an excellent region for research and development, commercialization, and industry-academia-research cooperation linked to demand industries such as future vehicles, robotics, mobile, home appliances, defense, and renewable energy, making it a place where innovative synergy effects can be created through the establishment of a WBG semiconductor industry ecosystem.

Gyeongbuk Province plans to implement five major strategies to establish the WBG semiconductor ecosystem.

First, it will build manufacturing platforms for each wide bandgap semiconductor material and establish a regional cooperative system with domestic sole SiC (silicon carbide) wafer producers and suppliers such as KEC and Yes Power Technics.

In particular, GaN (gallium nitride) materials, which have received relatively insufficient support in government-led projects so far, will be strategically included to actively foster next-generation low- and medium-voltage semiconductors and RF semiconductors applied to high-frequency bands.

Second, reflecting that WBG semiconductors are suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises’ business models and that vertical integration is inefficient due to industrial characteristics, a full-cycle support system will be established through joint efforts among industry, academia, research, and government.

Third, to strengthen global technological competitiveness, a WBG semiconductor convergence research institute will be established to promote demand-driven joint research and development based on industry-academia-research collaboration in materials, design, processes, and testing.

Fourth, efforts will focus on expanding technologies and discovering items to meet the demands of various industrial fields such as future vehicles and 5G communications that apply WBG semiconductor materials and device technologies.

Through this, an industrial ecosystem connecting Gumi, Pohang, and Daegu?where compound semiconductor-related industry-academia-research infrastructure is well established?will be created in the form of a triangle belt.

To form the WBG triangle belt, Gumi will focus on fabless and modularization centered on the Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Institute, strengthening inter-industry cooperation and expanding the portfolio of promising field products.

In Pohang, centered on the Nano Convergence Technology Institute, emphasis will be placed on foundry and testbeds, establishing a full-cycle one-stop support system for companies, sharing technology roadmaps, and jointly discovering items.

Meanwhile, in Daegu, centered on the Kyungpook National University Semiconductor Convergence Technology Institute, the focus will be on R&D of core technologies and workforce development, building an industry-academia-research-government cooperation system.

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Vision Strategy.

Going forward, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to propose to the government an expanded K-semiconductor strategy model that combines the government’s K-semiconductor strategy (focused on the metropolitan area, large corporations, memory, and silicon) with the WBG semiconductor ecosystem establishment (focused on local areas, small and medium-sized enterprises, systems, and WBG), and to build strategic cooperative relationships with cities such as Daegu and Busan.

Jang Sang-gil, Director of the Science and Industry Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “We plan to focus on fostering the WBG semiconductor industry to proactively respond to the rapidly changing semiconductor industry environment due to the 4th Industrial Revolution and climate crisis,” adding, “We will create jobs and lead related markets through balanced regional semiconductor industry development and securing competitiveness.”

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