'Strengthening Korea's Semiconductor Ecosystem'... Samsung Electronics Shares Fab Know-how with POSTECH

Infrastructure Improvements in Safety, Site Management, and Equipment
To Be Expanded to 14 Public Fabs Nationwide

Samsung Electronics has shared its semiconductor fab (factory) operation know-how with the POSTECH Nanotechnology Convergence Institute, thus improving the technology development environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and researchers.

Samsung Electronics semiconductor production facility, Pyeongtaek Campus line. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On September 11, Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) Division Win-Win Cooperation Center and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that they held the "Samsung Electronics-Nanotechnology Convergence Institute Public NanoFab Operation Efficiency Consulting Outcome Report" at the POSTECH Nanotechnology Convergence Institute in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

This consulting project consisted of intensive on-site support, with professional consultants from Samsung Electronics visiting the fab in person. Drawing upon decades of semiconductor manufacturing experience, Samsung Electronics identified improvements needed for on-site operations in areas such as safety and environmental standards, on-site management, equipment operation, and facility processes. While similar consulting services have typically targeted partners in the semiconductor materials, components, and equipment (MCE) sector, this initiative was tailored to the characteristics of a public nanofab environment. As a result, the Nanotechnology Convergence Institute comprehensively enhanced safety, cleanliness, facility reliability, and process service responsiveness.

This project is particularly meaningful in that it goes beyond consulting for individual partner companies by driving innovation in public infrastructure jointly used by domestic SMEs and research institutions. Following similar initiatives at the KAIST National NanoFab Center in 2023 and this year's project at the POSTECH Nanotechnology Convergence Institute, Samsung plans to continue this approach at the Korea Nanotechnology Research Society, the Seoul National University Semiconductor Joint Research Institute, and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST).

Furthermore, the results of the consulting will be further applied across all institutions participating in "MoaFab," a public nanofab-linked and integrated platform, continually upgrading the reliability of Korea’s semiconductor R&D and MCE demonstration and evaluation infrastructure.

Ji Hyunki, Executive Vice President and Head of the Win-Win Cooperation Center at Samsung Electronics DS Division, stated, "Public nanofabs form a core base for the K-semiconductor ecosystem, where domestic materials, components, and equipment companies develop and validate new technologies and products. By integrating the manufacturing innovation know-how accumulated through consulting with partner companies into public nanofabs, we will continue to strengthen the overall competitiveness of Korea's semiconductor ecosystem."

Yoon Kyung-Suk, Director-General for Basic Science and Source Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, commented, "The transfer of advanced fab operation know-how from the private sector is an exemplary win-win cooperation model that can establish an innovative and virtuous cycle in the semiconductor ecosystem. Going forward, centered on MoaFab, we will strengthen public–private cooperation through private consulting, idle equipment transfer, and the utilization of experienced private-sector professionals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.