Gyeonggi Province Secures 32.2 Billion Won in National Funding for Advanced Equipment Support for Fabless Semiconductor Companies

Gyeonggi Province has been selected as the final operator for the 'Shared Advanced Equipment Support Project for Fabless Companies,' securing 32.2 billion won in national funding.

Gyeonggi Province participated in the public contest to support the competitiveness of fabless companies that design system semiconductors, as the importance of industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous vehicles has recently increased.

The core of this project is to provide high-cost design and performance verification equipment, which are difficult for small and medium-sized fabless companies to purchase, through government or local government support, enabling companies to jointly and easily access these resources.

Gyeonggi Province has designated the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, which has experience and expertise in supporting the fabless industry, as the lead organization. The Next Generation Convergence Technology Institute, Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, and Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency have been confirmed as participating organizations.

The main contents of the project include: ▲ Establishing a high-performance computing environment for advanced system semiconductor design and verification, including AI; ▲ Building an ultra-high-speed interface IP performance verification and measurement environment; and ▲ Establishing a commercialization support system through professional workforce training.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

To minimize errors in the semiconductor chip design stage before prototype production, the project will establish emulators and other equipment to verify actual operation in a virtual environment. After prototype production, equipment will be installed to evaluate performance at the wafer level and to analyze ultra-high-speed interface signals required for AI semiconductors.

In addition, secure server rooms and high-reliability network equipment will be established for companies to use remotely. Training for employees of these companies on the use of the installed equipment is also planned, with the expectation that a comprehensive support system will be established from design to commercialization.

The equipment will be installed sequentially through 2027, and is expected to significantly reduce both the development period and economic burden for small and medium-sized fabless companies in Korea. In particular, companies located in Gyeonggi Province will receive a usage fee discount of about 30% compared to those in other regions.

Lee Seongho, Director General of Future Growth Industries for Gyeonggi Province, stated, "By being selected for this project, fabless companies in Gyeonggi Province, including AI semiconductor firms, have gained an opportunity to grow even further on the global stage." He added, "Gyeonggi Province will take the lead and provide unwavering support for the growth of Korea's fabless industry."

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