105 fabless unite and incorporate
Relay industry voices to the government and the National Assembly
Develop human resources and establish human networks
Chairman Seo-gyu Lee "to take on global leaders
The 'Korea Fabless Industry Association' was launched to strengthen Korea's system semiconductor industry's competitiveness and to represent the voice of the fabless industry. It is the largest group in the industry with over 100 semiconductor fabless. From nurturing the semiconductor design workforce to mutual exchanges between companies, the association is focusing its efforts to foster the system semiconductor ecosystem.
The Korea Fabless Industry Association held its inaugural general meeting on the 17th at the Pangyo Startup Campus in Gyeonggi-do. Representatives from 105 semiconductor fabless companies, Rep. Hyang-ja Yang (People Power Party, Special Committee to strengthen semiconductor industry competitiveness), Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Young-jin Jang, and Seongnam Mayor Sang-jin Shin attended the event. Pixel Plus CEO Seo-gyu Lee, who was the president of the Korea Fabless Association, the predecessor of the association, will serve as chairman. Meanwhile, Yeom Heo, CEO of Silicon Mitus, was appointed as honorary chairman, and Jang-gyu Lee, CEO of Telechips, was appointed as senior vice chairman.
The association will act as a window for incorporated companies to relay the voices of the fabless industry to the government and the National Assembly. It will contribute to create a healthy industrial ecosystem so that Korea's system semiconductor design industry can grow in the global market.
System semiconductor-related industries such as semiconductor fabless companies, integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), and foundries are working together with academia and research institutes to maximize the competitiveness of Korea's system semiconductor industry and contribute to national development. It is also seeking ways to foster semiconductor talent through mutual cooperation among association members and grow together.
The association has formed four divisions: △System Interface Solution △Semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP) △Automobile/Industry △Mobile/Internet. It plans to maximize the effects of synergy between the division and participating companies through mutual cooperation.
In the future, the association will also serve as a representative for the Korean system semiconductor industry. It has gathered the opinions of companies that previously responded and is actively seeking ways to foster the system semiconductor ecosystem. It will focus on solving the poor infrastructure and difficulties in the system semiconductor ecosystem. It also plans to seek solutions to the long-time problem of securing human resources and actively cooperate with academia. The association is already preparing a human resource training project with Gachon University and the Institute of Semiconductor Engineers. 'System semiconductor academies' will also be established to form a system for growing human resources.
It plans to build a sound human network in the semiconductor fabless industry and contribute to the advancement of technology through various activities such as forums, seminars, and technology exchange events. It will also initiate a fabless-foundry mutual benefit council. It also plans to help with cooperation in the 'Multi Project Wafer (MPW)' business to produce semiconductor prototypes designed by fabless companies. Furthermore, it will step in to expand interactions with fabless customers, such as smartphones, home appliances, and automobiles, in order to advance the performance and quality of semiconductors required by the market. It will foster large fabless companies by revitalizing M&As for fabless companies and create an ecosystem to strengthen global competitiveness.
Seo-gyu Lee, Chairman of the Korea Fabless Industry Association, said, “We will work to play a role in establishing Korea as a hegemon in the global market with semiconductor chips that are planned, designed and manufactured by a system semiconductor design company in order to fulfill the calling and mission of the 4th industrial revolution."
By staff reporter Dong-joon Kwon (djkwon@etnews.com)