The Korea Nanotechnology Fab Center (President: Kwang-Seok Seo) announced on the 28th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with WaveLord Co., Ltd. (CEO: JuneO Song), a next-generation GaN (Gallium Nitride)-based power semiconductor company, to promote collaboration in the development and commercialization of system semiconductor technologies. The agreement aims to support strategic technological cooperation between the two companies.

Through this MOU, both organizations will actively pursue close technical collaboration, support the utilization of R&D equipment and facilities, transfer core patented technologies, and expand technology commercialization to advance technology development and establish a robust support system for the next-generation semiconductor field. In particular, the Korea Nanotechnology Fab Center plans to transfer relevant patented technologies to secure core technologies for GaN materials and help enhance market competitiveness. The institute supported 26 technology transfers to small and medium-sized enterprises last year.

WaveLord Co., Ltd., a promising startup in the power semiconductor industry, was founded in November 2019 and has secured KRW 3 billion in seed funding. The company achieved KRW in sales 1 billion last year and has recently completed the establishment of facilities and equipment in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. These facilities enable the independent development and mass production of engineering monolithic epitaxy wafers, which integrate GaN-based power semiconductors and microLED display chips in a highly compatible structure.

Despite the recent downturn in the semiconductor market, many companies have reduced investments in technology and infrastructure. However, due to the growing demand for automotive semiconductors driven by the commercialization of electric vehicles, the global automotive semiconductor market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 11.1%, reaching USD 80.7 billion (approx. KRW 105 trillion) by 2027.

Additionally, with the continued release of electric vehicles utilizing secondary batteries, the importance of power semiconductors for controlling internal automotive power systems is increasing. The power semiconductor market is expected to grow from USD 45 billion (approx. KRW 60 trillion) in 2019 to USD 53 billion (approx. KRW 70 trillion) this year, representing an 18% increase. (resource: Yole Intelligence)

Major global automakers such as Hyundai Motor and Tesla, as well as leading Korean semiconductor companies like Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and DB HiTek, are actively investing, acquiring, and developing technologies to gain a preoccupancy in the power semiconductor market.

The Korea Nanotechnology Fab Center, a national nanotechnology infrastructure, supports R&D and infrastructure for nano devices and compound semiconductors. It aims to strengthen the technological competitiveness of promising SMEs and startups through expanded support for R&D in next-generation nano devices and semiconductor technologies.

President Kwang-Seok Seo of the Korea Nanotechnology Fab Center stated, “Through this MOU, we aim to formulate strategies to secure core technologies in the promising fields of automotive and power semiconductors, which are emerging as next-generation growth engines. We will continue to discover and support promising companies, thereby contributing to enhancing national competitiveness and advancing related industries.”

Source: Dailysecu (https://www.dailysecu.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=144754)