The Semiconductor Special Law's enforcement decree took effect on August 11, expanding support for domestic semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (known as 소부장) from research and development (R&D) to mass production verification. Following the government's announcement of a 10-year, 1 trillion won "Together Growth Project" the previous day, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are establishing infrastructure to test products developed by their partners in environments close to actual production processes. This initiative aims to reduce the commercialization bottleneck faced by domestic 소부장 companies, which have struggled to transition from technology development to customer validation.
The enforcement decree of the Semiconductor Special Law, which began today, clarifies the basis for the Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Special Committee, chaired by the President, and the operation of special accounts. It establishes a framework for supporting clusters, R&D, and workforce training under a long-term plan rather than through individual departmental projects.
For 소부장 companies, securing "mass production data" is considered a higher hurdle than funding. New equipment or materials cannot be delivered based solely on performance verification; they must undergo long-term validation for yield rates, operational efficiency, and compatibility with existing equipment in customer processes. The government is allocating 20 billion won for reliability assessments and 25 billion won for mass production performance evaluations this year to connect developed products with actual production lines.
Support to lower the verification barriers for 소부장 companies has also been specified. The government will assist in operating testbeds and reducing facility rental costs to enable small and medium-sized 소부장 companies, which may struggle to establish their own clean rooms or expensive analytical equipment, to verify product performance and mass production feasibility.
The "Together Growth Project" announced the previous day aligns with this direction. The government plans to invest 1 trillion won over the next decade in projects where large and small companies collaborate from technology development to verification and mass production. It will provide 5 trillion won in cooperative trade financing for exporting 소부장 companies and establish a new fund of approximately 5 trillion won for promising 소부장 and fabless companies. Unlike previous financial support, this initiative aims to link verification and purchasing stages.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are also expanding their mass production verification spaces. Samsung is pursuing the establishment of a mass production-linked testbed to validate partner products and facilitate actual deliveries. SK Hynix is constructing a "Trinity fab" in the Yongin semiconductor cluster, with an investment of about 860 billion won. The plan includes initially placing 40 pieces of equipment in a clean room of approximately 1,000 pyeong, allowing partners to validate products in an environment similar to mass production lines, with operations targeted to begin in May 2027.
Verification history can also be leveraged for overseas expansion, as global semiconductor companies require mass production data during the adoption of new equipment. This verification infrastructure could enhance the export competitiveness of domestic equipment manufacturers, who need to reduce reliance on the Chinese market and expand their customer base in the U.S. and Europe.
Lee Hyun-cheol, SK Hynix's head of purchasing strategy, stated regarding the Trinity fab, "We aim to support 소부장 companies in shortening the verification period for mass production by establishing verification infrastructure similar to that of mass production fabs."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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