Samsung Electronics to Grow 'Future Growth Engines' Including Next-Generation Semiconductor Devices and RNA Vaccines

27 Research Projects in Basic Science, Materials, and ICT
Support Worth 48.6 Billion KRW...Backing Future-Leading Science and Technology

Professors selected for the Samsung Future Technology Development Project support tasks in the first half of 2022. From the top left clockwise: Chanhee Kang (Seoul National University), Youngjin Kwon (KAIST), Daehyun Kim (Kyungpook National University), Junsung Kim (POSTECH), Yongsu Yang (KAIST), Youngjae Choi (GIST)

Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with the Samsung Future Technology Development Foundation, is embarking on discovering future growth engines ranging from 'semiconductor devices' to 'RNA vaccines' for diseases like COVID-19.

On the 5th, Samsung Electronics announced that it has selected 27 research projects to support starting from the first half of this year. The selected projects include 12 in basic science, 8 in materials, and 7 in ICT, totaling 27 projects. A research fund of 48.65 billion KRW will be provided.

First, in the basic science field, 12 projects were selected. Professor Kang Chan-hee of the Department of Life Sciences at Seoul National University is researching the mysterious realm of 'aging,' one of the most critical challenges humanity must overcome. Professor Kang's team plans to identify the cause of accelerated aging in surrounding cells due to senescence-associated secretory metabolites (SASM). If successful, the project is expected to provide detailed knowledge about the aging process and significantly contribute to developing treatments for various aging-related diseases such as arthritis and metabolic syndrome.

Professor Yang Yong-soo of the Department of Physics at KAIST plans to determine the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms present at solid interfaces. This is anticipated to be a core foundational study for improving the performance of various applied devices such as semiconductors and thermoelectric devices.

In the materials field, 8 projects are supported across a broad range of areas expected to have industrial applications, including next-generation semiconductor devices, foundational and purification technologies related to gene therapy, and batteries operating at low temperatures.

Professor Kim Jun-sung of the Department of Physics at POSTECH is developing a new magnetic material whose resistance change due to an external magnetic field is over a billion times greater than existing materials and is challenging the development of next-generation semiconductor devices utilizing this material. If successful, it is expected to solve the massive power consumption issues occurring in high-performance computers and ultra-large data centers.

Professor Choi Young-jae of the Department of New Materials Engineering at GIST is developing a new molecular purification technology to improve RNA purification yield, currently below 70%, to over 99%. This technology can streamline the production process of RNA vaccines and therapeutics, contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of 'K-Bio.'

In the ICT field, 7 projects were selected. Professor Kim Dae-hyun of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Kyungpook National University is challenging the development of the world's first ultra-high-frequency and ultra-low-power next-generation semiconductor device (transistor) operating at 1 terahertz (THz) speed. THz-level semiconductor electronic device technology can accelerate the commercialization of 6G communications and quantum computing. It can also be widely applied in medical, environmental, security, and military fields.

Meanwhile, including the research projects announced this time, Samsung Electronics has supported a total of 735 research projects since 2013, with 251 in basic science, 240 in materials, and 244 in ICT, providing research funds totaling 973.8 billion KRW. A Samsung Electronics official explained, "The Samsung Future Technology Development Project is a public research support initiative aimed at advancing Korea's basic science, innovating industrial technology, solving social problems, and nurturing world-class scientific and technological talent."

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