An R&D Plan Unveiled
The South Korean government released a plan for advanced power semiconductor R&D and production capacity enhancement on April 1.
An advanced power semiconductor device, which is used for power conversion, stabilization, control, and the like in AI systems, electric vehicles, and so on, is produced with an advanced wafer more durable and higher in power efficiency than a silicon wafer. It is used in 5G communications systems and inverters for renewable energy-based power generation, too. The size of the domestic market is approximately US$2 billion and more than 90 percent of the market demand depends on import due to the lack of technology and patents.
The government is planning to enhance the competitiveness of the market to a global level by 2025 so that at least five advanced power semiconductor products can be commercially available from South Korea by that year. It is going to work on applied techniques and technologies with regard to the three materials of SiC, GaN and Ga2O3 to overcome the limitations of the silicone material and assist in domestic companies’ material and wafer R&D efforts.
It is planning to provide assistance for power IC design as well so that high-density and high-performance advanced power semiconductor products can be developed. In addition, it will establish six- to eight-inch manufacturing processes together with domestic foundries so relevant foundry services can be expanded.
