"Up to 50% of Development Costs Supported in Advance"...SK hynix Expands Partner Support System

SK hynix Marks 25th Anniversary of Council for Mutual Growth
Strengthened Support at Each Stage from Technology Development to Sales
Delivery Payment Support Fund Doubled to 100 Billion Won

To mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of its Council for Mutual Growth, SK hynix is expanding its support system to promote co-prosperity with partner companies. The company is building a new shared growth model that supports partners at each stage of their growth—from technology development, testing and verification, mass production, to sales—and is launching a new program to support research and development (R&D) as well.

On September 28, SK hynix announced that it had held the '2026 Partners Day' event together with its partner companies. This year's event was organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Council for Mutual Growth, the consultative body between SK hynix and its partners. The event was attended by key executives, including CEO and President Nojeong Kwak, CTO Sunyong Cha (head of the Future Technology Research Institute), CPO Byeonggi Lee (chief of production operations), as well as representatives from about 100 partner companies.

CEO Kwak said, "Over the past 25 years, we have been a strong support for each other in our respective roles. This has enabled SK hynix to grow into a leading global company in the era of AI. Based on the trust we have built so far, let us open a new era for the next 25 years by pioneering the future together and making even greater strides forward."

On the same day, SK hynix presented its shared growth vision, classifying the growth cycle of partner companies into four stages: technology development, testing and verification, mass production, and sales. The company also announced it would strengthen support programs tailored to each stage.

Kwak Nojeong, President and CEO of SK hynix, is delivering a thank you speech at the '2026 Partners Day' held with partner companies on the 28th. SK hynix.

In the technology development stage, SK hynix will designate promising partners as technology innovation companies and foster them with support such as intellectual property and samples needed for technology development. In particular, a new "R&D Challenge Reward System" will be introduced, providing up to 50 percent of initial development costs in advance. Even if technology development is unsuccessful or does not lead to actual procurement, settlements will be made afterward, reflecting technical achievements and contributions.

During the testing and verification stage, partner companies will be able to validate their developed technologies in actual production environments. Through the Analysis and Measurement Support Center, SK hynix will offer precision analysis and reliability assessments, while products developed by partners will undergo performance evaluations using SK hynix’s own production lines to verify yield and reliability.

The company is also establishing the "Trinity Fab," a process demonstration facility. SK hynix is constructing Trinity Fab, approximately 3,300 square meters in size, in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, with plans to open in 2027. This will allow partner companies to verify technologies in a mass production-level process environment and preemptively identify potential issues before products are integrated into production lines.

For the mass production stage, SK hynix will support facility investments and the securing of production capabilities. The company will provide necessary funding at preferential interest rates through the Mutual Growth Fund and expand its partner consulting program to include second- and third-tier suppliers.

In the sales stage, the company will continue operating the mutually beneficial payment system and double the scale of the delivery payment support fund from the previous 50 billion won to 100 billion won. This is intended to enhance the stability of cash flow for partner companies.

SK hynix

Support for securing and nurturing talent will also continue. SK hynix operates programs such as "Hy-Five" for connecting recruitment, training, and internships for outstanding talent at partner companies; the "Semiconductor Academy" to strengthen job skills for partner company employees; and the "Semiconductor Coexistence CEO Seminar" for partner executives.

The event also featured a ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Council for Mutual Growth. The council was launched in 2001 as "Hynix Council" with 79 leading partner companies and was restructured as the current Council for Mutual Growth in 2014.

During the partner company awards ceremony, a total of 11 outstanding partners were selected across four categories: technology innovation, quality improvement, mutual growth, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance).

Following this, recognition was given to past council chairmen and holding company owners for their contributions to the stable operation and development of the council. SK hynix and the council extended special invitations and presented achievement plaques to them, also appointing former chairmen as honorary chairmen by establishing a new honorary chairman system. Finally, CEO Kwak presented a commemorative plaque marking the 25th anniversary to Cheoljoo Hwang, chairman of the Council for Mutual Growth and president of Jusung Engineering, expressing gratitude for his dedicated service.

SK hynix stated, "The competencies of our partners are the most critical factor in SK hynix’s technological competitiveness. By utilizing our customized shared growth model for each growth stage, we will further strengthen their competitiveness and use this as a foundation to build a sustainable domestic semiconductor ecosystem."

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