“In semiconductor market, South Korea is in very important position. (Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix) Two headquarters of world-class semiconductor companies are positioned there. All types of semiconductors are being manufactured, such as DRAM, NAND, Logic and others. Lam Research will form a single ecosystem that combines equipment development, manufacturing and distribution in South Korea for innovation of semiconductors.”
Tim Archer, president and CEO of Lam Research, who visited Korea to attend the opening ceremony of Lam Research Korea Technology Center, the R&D base of Lam Research in Korea, emphasized that they need an ecosystem that cooperates with the Korean semiconductor industry. This center is the result of Archer’s will in R&D field. This is realization of Archer’s discussion of building R&D center in Korea in 2019, one year after he took the control over Lam Research.
Archer believes that the synergy can be maximized when Lam Research cooperate with semiconductor resources of Korea. In Korea, there are manpower, semiconductor material, parts company, and manufacturer to form a stable ecosystem. It is Archer’s idea that by combining Korea’s outstanding semiconductor talents, and research infrastructure of Lam Research, they can come up with the new ideas and lead the innovation. That is one of the roles that he expects from R&D center in Korea. Archer said “As a pillar of Korea’s semiconductor industry ecosystem, in early stage, we sold equipment and gave technical support, and later we set our manufacturing point in Korea. Naturally, we expanded our field into R&D, that also expanded our localization strategy.”
Archer is expecting that localized ecosystem of Lam Research would ultimately accelerate the innovation of semiconductor manufacturers. Existing semiconductor manufacturers, even with their cooperation to develop the equipment, they had to respond from the USA research center, which delays development time and had not good efficiency. Now with the R&D center in Korea, they can respond to their customers, semiconductor companies, and form an environment to maximize the synergy. They can improve productivity of semiconductor manufacturers. Archer said “By providing technology in closer distance to improve productivity and reduce cost to secure market competitiveness of our customers. Our strategy is to provide best portfolio by improve yield and productivity of semiconductor manufacturers.”
Archer also showed the possibility of additional investment in Korea. Considering the growth of Korea's semiconductor industry, investment should be expanded in terms of manpower and infrastructure. Archer said “We have already secured additional space for extension of Lam Research Korea Technology Center. In order to respond to Korea’s market needs, we will make investment strategy with long-term point of view.
By Staff Reporter Dong-jun Kwon (djkwon@etnews.com)