The South Korean government is supporting the development of 10 domestic artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors to be used in autonomous vehicles, home appliances, and robotics. Samsung Electronics' foundry division plans to prioritize the production schedule for 21 semiconductor prototype productions next year, while domestic and international semiconductor design asset (IP) companies will also work to alleviate development costs.
On November 12, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will hold the '2026 AI Semiconductor M.AX Alliance Second Half General Meeting' at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, attended by over 150 participants from demand companies, fabless firms, foundries, and semiconductor IP companies. The meeting will announce the roadmap for the 'K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development Project,' which has a total project cost of 800.2 billion won, initiated in June.
On-device AI refers to technology that processes AI computations within devices such as cars, home appliances, and robots without communicating with external servers. The government plans to integrate the development of domestic AI semiconductors, modules, and operating software that can be embedded in actual products through collaboration between domestic fabless companies and demand firms.
By 2030, a total of 10 types of AI chips will be developed and verified. This includes one AI chip for autonomous vehicles, three AI chips for smart appliances, and one AI chip each for collaborative robots, humanoids, agricultural robots, and unmanned drones, totaling eight AI chips. Additionally, one semiconductor design asset for advanced processes and one for extreme environments will also be developed.
Notably, the AI chip for smart appliances is expected to be manufactured more than a year ahead of the original schedule.
To support this initiative, the roles of demand companies, foundries, and semiconductor IP firms will be strengthened. Demand companies will move beyond simply purchasing completed semiconductors to providing necessary performance specifications from the early stages of development and establishing a foundation for testing in actual product environments. This aims to enhance the commercialization potential of domestic semiconductors.
Samsung Electronics' foundry division plans to align the demand for domestic AI semiconductor prototype production with existing production schedules, utilizing advanced processes such as 2-nanometer technology. Specifically, they will identify and respond to a total of 21 prototype production demands, including three for 2-nanometer, four for 4-nanometer, three for 5-nanometer, three for 8-nanometer, three for 14-nanometer, and five for 28-nanometer processes. Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) production allows multiple semiconductor designs to be fabricated on a single wafer, reducing the cost burden for fabless companies.
Domestic and international semiconductor IP companies also plan to ease the development burden for fabless firms by offering flexible payment options for IP fees and providing common IP packages.
Earlier, on June 15, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy launched a 'Semiconductor Manufacturing Support Task Force' during the first half M.AX Alliance General Meeting, which includes participation from semiconductor manufacturing and IP companies such as Samsung Electronics, Arm, Synopsys, Cadence, and OpenEdge Technology. The total project cost confirmed at that time was 800.23 billion won, with 511.11 billion won funded by the government.
A public-private joint strategy committee will also be established to enhance the project's execution. The committee will be co-chaired by the Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and the President of Kyung Hee University, Kim Jin-sang, and will review and finalize annual development plans at the beginning of each year while monitoring progress.
This committee will also address technical challenges that arise during the development process and mediate interests among companies.
Lee Min-woo, head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Industrial Growth Office, stated, "True coexistence in the semiconductor industry should be proven through the adoption of collaboratively developed technologies in actual products, not just promises of cooperation. Through this project, we aim to open a new growth path where the global manufacturing competitiveness of our demand companies translates into the technological capabilities and commercialization achievements of domestic fabless firms."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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