Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Samsung Electronics, and 5 Promising Fabless Companies Including Damoatech Selected for Support

by Choi Donghyeon

Published 29 Aug.2023 14:00(KST)

A researcher is showcasing an MPW test chip in the 12-inch semiconductor testbed cleanroom at the Daejeon Nano Convergence Technology Institute. It is forecasted that the global semiconductor shortage will continue until mid-next year. As the local industry in the region, which is pursuing a semiconductor ecosystem advancement strategy, faces potential impacts from this trend, attention is focused on the situation, while various countries around the world are also rolling out their countermeasures. Our government is accelerating efforts to advance the semiconductor ecosystem. Through the "K-Semiconductor Strategy Report," the government envisions a leap to becoming a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse by 2030 and plans to complete semiconductor localization through massive investments and tax incentives. Having achieved K-quarantine through COVID-19, South Korea is expected to proudly demonstrate the success of K-Semiconductor in the global semiconductor supremacy competition. /Daejeon=Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it held the ‘Fabless Challenge,’ an event jointly organized with Samsung Electronics to select and support promising semiconductor fabless (design-specialized) companies, on the 29th at the Korea Federation of SMEs DMC Tower.

The Fabless Challenge is an event launched last year to strengthen the system semiconductor ecosystem and provide opportunities for fabless and foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) companies to grow together. This year, starting from the recruitment of companies on the 3rd of last month, five promising fabless startups were finally selected through step-by-step evaluations including document and presentation assessments by experts. The selected companies are Gwanak Analog, Damoatech, Boss Semiconductor, Alpha Solutions, and Wonsemicon.

For the startups finally selected, Samsung Electronics will support priority use of foundry MPW (Multi Project Wafer) manufacturing processes and process technologies. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to provide up to 100 million KRW in development costs per company.

The event proceeded in the order of congratulatory speeches by Oh Ki-woong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Jung Ki-bong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics, followed by a report on the evaluation process by the judging panel, an award ceremony for the selected startups, and vision presentations.

Vice Minister Oh said, “For Korea’s core industry, the semiconductor industry, to take another leap forward, fostering system semiconductor companies, especially excellent fabless companies, is extremely urgent,” adding, “The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will continue to make active efforts for the balanced development between fabless and foundry through fostering promising fabless companies and win-win cooperation.”