Promoting Synergy
The Semiconductor Fabless Alliance, involving semiconductor demand companies and supply companies, has been established. The objective of the alliance is to promote synergy among enterprises and strengthen industrial competitiveness by developing semiconductors based on domestic finished products that manufacturers demand.
The launching ceremony for the Semiconductor Fabless Alliance was held on July 10 at the Gyeonggi Startup Campus in Pangyo, Seongnam, in collaboration with Seongnam City, the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), and the Korea Fabless Industry Association.
A total of 25 domestic fabless companies, including Telechips, GAONCHIPS, and SAPEON, participated as supply companies. Demand companies included Hyundai Mobis, KT Cloud, and LIG Nex1, among a total of 31 firms. The participation of related companies from the automotive, ICT, and defense sectors, along with top-tier collaborating companies like HL Mando, was notable. Academically, Gachon University and Sungkyunkwan University are participating to support system semiconductor research and development (R&D) and expert human resource cultivation.
The Korea Electronics & Information Technology Association, Korea Display Industry Association, Korea PCB & Semiconductor Packaging Industry Association, and seven other related manufacturing industry associations will also collaborate. They are expected to play a bridging role between system semiconductor demand and supply companies based on each association’s member companies, identifying additional tasks and opportunities.
The Alliance has organized six subcommittees – Mobile, Home Appliances, Mobility, Computing Systems, Robots/Bio/Healthcare, and Energy/Others – and has arranged supply companies accordingly. By the end of the year, they plan to derive collaboration cases between 3 to 5 demand-supply match-ups through cooperation per technology subcommittee.
The alliance will also operate cooperation platforms to strengthen the connection between demand and supply companies, such as technology trend seminars and semiconductor design asset consulting. It will share the demand for system semiconductors from manufacturing companies with fabless companies and provide opportunities for collaboration between fabless companies based on demand. Plans are also underway to conduct regional government-specific research and development (R&D) for fabless for joint performance achievement.
KETI, which supervises the operation of the alliance, plans to provide services such as supply company technology difficulty mapping, joint use of research equipment, and joint execution of national R&D, focusing on enhancing the technological capabilities of fabless companies.