Samsung Electronics to Establish Semiconductor Development Hub in Yokohama, Japan... Targeting Operation by 2025

Nikkei "Over 300 Billion Won Investment, Semiconductor Production Line Establishment"
Joint Technology Research Also Underway with Japanese Companies

Samsung Electronics will invest more than 30 billion yen (approximately 300 billion KRW) to establish an advanced semiconductor device prototype production line in Yokohama, Japan.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 14th, Samsung Electronics plans to start preparations within this year and operate the line by 2025.

The production line to be established this time is for assembling three-dimensional semiconductor devices and producing prototypes. Samsung Electronics is known to plan developing production technology through joint research with Japanese material and equipment companies after establishing the base. Nikkei reported that cooperation with Japanese companies will also continue during the material development and verification stages.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To build this facility, Samsung Electronics has also applied for subsidies from the Japanese government. If approved, the subsidy amount Samsung Electronics will receive is expected to exceed 10 billion yen (approximately 9.9 billion KRW). The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan operates a support program that subsidizes investment amounts, including those from overseas companies. Previously, Taiwan's TSMC and the U.S. Micron Technology also received subsidies through this program.

Nikkei analyzed that Samsung Electronics' decision this time is due to the improvement in bilateral relations following the Korea-Japan summit. Earlier, on the 7th, President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed at the summit held in Seoul to strengthen cooperation between Korean semiconductor manufacturers and Japanese Sobe (materials, parts, and equipment) companies to build a semiconductor supply chain.

Samsung Electronics has a research center in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, and intends to develop this location as a base. Nikkei expects that this will create employment for several hundred people within Japan. However, Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the Nikkei inquiry, stating, "We refrain from responding."

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