Busan City Hosts the '2023 WBGS International Symposium'

September 16, 9 AM at Nurimaru APEC House, 200 attendees including industry, academia, and research experts in power semiconductors

Sharing semiconductor R&D policies, technology development, industrialization trends, and building domestic and inte

Busan City will hold the ‘2023 WBGS International Symposium’ at 9 a.m. on the 16th at Nurimaru APEC House.

Poster for the '2023 WBGS International Symposium' event.

WBGS (Wide Bandgap Semiconductor) refers to next-generation compound semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), which differ from conventional silicon (Si). These semiconductors have excellent material properties such as high voltage and high heat resistance, making them highly effective for energy savings and primarily used in electric vehicles.

Now in its 7th year and held consecutively in Busan for 7 years, the ‘WBGS International Symposium’ was organized to share research and development policies, technological advancements, and industrial trends related to next-generation compound semiconductors (WBGS) used in power semiconductors, as well as to establish domestic and international cooperation networks.

Since last year, the symposium expanded its research scope beyond silicon carbide (SiC) to include gallium nitride (GaN) materials, changing the event name from the ‘SiC International Symposium’ to the ‘WBGS International Symposium.’

Power semiconductors convert, control, and distribute power in electronic devices such as electric vehicles and smartphones, extending battery life and reducing power consumption.

In particular, for electric vehicles where fuel efficiency is critical, power semiconductors made from materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), which can reduce energy loss by up to 90% compared to conventional silicon (Si) semiconductors, are essential. As a result, interest in these materials has surged both domestically and internationally.

The symposium will be attended by 200 industry, academia, and research institute representatives related to power semiconductors, featuring ▲academic presentations ▲appointment of international advisory committee members for power semiconductors ▲and a report on the preparation status for the International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM) 2025.

First, during the academic presentations, five overseas experts in the next-generation compound power semiconductor field will present the latest international technology trends to build a global network and bridge technological gaps.

The five experts are ▲Jank Michael (Germany, Ph.D., Fraunhofer IISB, Erlangen) ▲Kuramata Akito (Japan, CEO of Nobel Crystal Technology) ▲Lee Kiho (USA, Manager at Engis Corporation) ▲Li Qingyan (Taiwan, Professor at National Taiwan University) ▲and Zhang Changli (China, CEO of Shenzhen Huaxemi Electronics).

Additionally, the city will appoint these five invited experts as international advisory committee members for power semiconductors and present them with appointment certificates during the symposium.

In the report on the preparation status for the ‘International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM) 2025,’ the city will present updates on the international academic conference related to SiC power semiconductors and other power semiconductor fields, which was secured in Busan last September. The city will also engage in in-depth discussions with experts to ensure meticulous event preparations.

The ‘International Conference on Silicon Carbide and Related Materials (ICSCRM) 2025’ will be held at BEXCO from September 14 to 19, 2025, with approximately 1,500 participants from industry, academia, and research institutes across 30 countries. The event will include academic presentations, invited lectures, exhibitions, and business consultations.

Lee Kyung-deok, Director of the Future Industry Bureau, stated, “Since Busan was designated as a specialized power semiconductor complex in July, we have been doing our best to create a domestic and international power semiconductor ecosystem based on cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes, so that Busan can become a hub for the power semiconductor industry leading Korea’s future.” He added, “We hope this symposium will be an opportunity for Busan to lead the development of the power semiconductor industry not only domestically but also globally.”

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