Gyeongbuk Province Seeks Breakthrough in Semiconductor Talent Development by Collaborating with Universities and Research Institutes!

Government Semiconductor Talent Development Plan Response, Discussion on Regional University Measures

Gyeongbuk Province held a meeting on semiconductor talent development measures with university officials from within the province and research institutions at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology conference room.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gui-yeol] On the 19th, the government prepared a "Semiconductor Talent Development Plan" in collaboration with related ministries and reported it to the Cabinet meeting.

The government announced a response strategy aiming to nurture 150,000 semiconductor-related talents over the next 10 years to prepare for the rapid growth of the semiconductor market, establish talent development pathways beyond degree programs to reduce policy lag, and improve education and research environments to create an ecosystem for cultivating high-quality advanced personnel.

Accordingly, on the 29th, Gyeongbuk Province held a countermeasure meeting at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Research Institute's main conference room to explore provincial-level responses to concerns over the accelerated outflow of talent to the Seoul metropolitan area, with local universities and research institutions participating.

The meeting was attended by the Director of the Science and Industry Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, planning directors and related professors from 12 universities in the province, and semiconductor-related experts from research institutions such as the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Research Institute, Gyeongbuk Technopark, and Gyeongbuk Science and Technology Promotion Center.

The meeting began with an explanation of the current status of major semiconductor-related projects in Gyeongbuk Province, followed by presentations on plans by each university to establish or expand semiconductor-related departments, and included mutual discussions and hearing of universities' suggestions.

It was reminded that Gyeongbuk has the Nano Convergence Technology Institute, designated as a national research institute in 2019, equipped with excellent infrastructure and facilities, giving it a competitive edge in the semiconductor field compared to other regions.

Through this, in-depth discussions were held on concrete measures for local universities to actively nurture semiconductor talents.

Currently, among regional universities, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Kumoh National Institute of Technology have semiconductor-related departments. POSTECH has operated the POSTECH-Samsung Electronics semiconductor talent development program since 2017 within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and since 2021, a Samsung Electronics Wireless Business Unit recruitment-linked program.

Additionally, starting next year, POSTECH plans to establish a Department of Semiconductor Engineering, which will operate as a Samsung Electronics recruitment-linked contract department.

Kumoh National Institute of Technology newly established a Semiconductor Systems major within the Department of Electronic Engineering this year and plans to recruit undergraduate freshmen from next year. To nurture semiconductor talents, it intends to request the Ministry of Education to increase the major quota by 30 students from 71.

Having been selected for the semiconductor major track project led by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry this year, it plans to train about 40 semiconductor design specialists annually in cooperation with 34 semiconductor companies from the second semester through 2024.

Daegu Haany University established a virtual college called Adventure College this year and plans to operate short-term intensive education courses in the semiconductor field and, in the long term, a specialized semiconductor major track.

Daegu Catholic University has plans to establish a semiconductor university and create the Department of Semiconductor Process and the Department of Semiconductor Maintenance by 2024.

Gyeongbuk Province is promoting projects such as the Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Ecosystem Creation Project (2023?2027, 520 billion KRW), the Wide Bandgap Material-Based Automotive Power Semiconductor Manufacturing Process Infrastructure Construction (selected in April 2022, 2022?2024, 13.75 billion KRW), and the E-Mobility Nano Semiconductor Manufacturing Process and Test Evaluation Platform Technology Development Project (2023?2027, 16.5 billion KRW).

Additionally, it is advancing the Next-Generation Mobility Semiconductor Cluster Construction (2023?2025, 19.5 billion KRW) and the Semiconductor Convergence Component Innovative Manufacturing Platform Construction Project (2023?2028, 35 billion KRW).

In December last year, an Advanced Technology Commercialization Center was established within POSTECH to create office space for advanced technology companies and support technology commercialization.

Jang Sang-gil, Director of the Science and Industry Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "The government is deeply considering provincial-level response measures regarding last year's K-semiconductor strategy and semiconductor industry talent development plan. The government's deregulation of admission quotas in the Seoul metropolitan area may further exacerbate difficulties for local universities. We will actively respond to changes in government policy and make great efforts to ensure that talents settle in the region."

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