Why Did the US Semiconductor Conglomerate 'Integris' Fail to Settle in Suwon?

Suwon City Hall

The city of Suwon in Gyeonggi Province has failed to attract the U.S. semiconductor comprehensive solutions company 'Entegris' research center (R&D).

Suwon City announced on the 23rd that the plan was practically canceled after Gyeonggi University, which was being discussed as the site for the Entegris research center, conveyed to Entegris that 'the research center cannot be hosted.' Although a new alternative site was sought, it was not easy to find one.

Earlier, Suwon City and Gyeonggi Province signed an investment attraction agreement on April 12 (local time) at Entegris' Danbury Technology Center in Connecticut, USA. Entegris signed a contract to establish a semiconductor materials research institute in Suwon and employ up to 150 people.

However, Entegris ultimately decided to build the center in Ansan due to difficulties in securing the research center site at Gyeonggi University.

Regarding this, a Suwon City official explained, "We met with key stakeholders of Gyeonggi University to explore the possibility of renegotiation and operated a two-track strategy by reviewing eight sites, including university-owned land within the city such as Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon and city/provincial government-owned land. However, since Entegris set the condition of 'operation by the end of 2024,' and many of the sites reviewed by Suwon City did not meet these requirements, the investment was postponed."

In response, an Entegris representative said, "We appreciate Suwon City's efforts in site discovery and administrative support. Entegris Korea headquarters will remain in Suwon without change, and Suwon will be given top priority when planning future expansions of Entegris headquarters and research centers."

Entegris will participate in the 'Next-Generation Semiconductor Packaging Equipment Materials Industry Exhibition' held at the Suwon Convention Center from August 30 to September 1.

Founded in 1966, Entegris is a semiconductor comprehensive solutions company with annual sales of $4 billion (approximately 4.8 trillion KRW), developing and providing core materials and processes for semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced industries. Entegris Korea, established in Suwon in 1990, operates factories in Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province and Wonju in Gangwon Province. The total sales volume of these factories is 425.3 billion KRW.

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