The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association has doubled the size of its Korea-U.S. AI Semiconductor Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, stepping up support for South Korean fabless chipmakers seeking to expand in the U.S. market. The group said the center will further serve as a local hub, offering on-the-ground testing and verification and helping connect companies with customers as the AI chip market grows and global supply chains are reshaped.
The association said it held an opening ceremony for the expanded center on April 28 local time in Silicon Valley. The center is operated with support from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology.
Founded in September 2024, the center has served as a base for South Korean system semiconductor companies entering the U.S., in a region packed with global big tech and fabless firms. It launched with five resident companies and 20 member companies; after the expansion, those totals rose to 10 and 40, respectively.
Resident and member companies posted more than $36 million in U.S. sales last year, according to the association. Industry officials have said the results show the center is playing a practical role in helping South Korean AI and system semiconductor firms enter the U.S. market.
Among the resident companies, Sapien Semiconductor signed a supply contract for display driver chips for smart glasses, and SemiFive won a project to develop a fully homomorphic encryption, or FHE, accelerator, the association said.
The expansion also strengthens on-site support facilities, including a test lab, meeting rooms and networking space. QRT, a company specializing in reliability testing, will participate in operating the center’s test lab, creating a one-stop setup that runs from reliability verification to links with local customer networks.
The center is also working to connect global AI companies with South Korean fabless firms. The day after the ceremony, it plans to invite U.S. AI cloud company TensorWave for one-on-one business consultations with South Korean system semiconductor companies including Mobilint and HyperAccel.
The association said it plans to further expand programs that match companies with local demand, strengthen testing and verification support, and provide tailored assistance.
Kim Jeong-hoe, vice chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, said, “We expect the expansion of the center will further accelerate South Korean system semiconductor companies’ entry into the U.S. market.” He added, “To respond to a rapidly changing market environment centered on AI, continued policy support from the government is important.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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