[News] South Korea Reportedly Plans to open AI Chip Center in San Jose

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According to a report from the Korean media outlet TheElec, South Korea is planning to establish an AI semiconductor innovation center in Silicon Valley.

The Korean Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA) announced on Wednesday that it would accept applications until May 30th for those interested in residing at the planned center. A committee will review the applicants in June, with the move-in process beginning in August for those who are selected.

This initiative is part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s project to promote system semiconductor technology for export. Launched in April, the project aims to establish research platforms in the US and China. The ministry is collaborating with industry associations like KSIA for this endeavor.

A KSIA spokesperson informed TheElec that the center will provide independent offices for three to four companies and feature a large, open space for additional companies. The center will reportedly offer support for companies’ prototype testing, verification, and other assistance.

The South Korea government has been aggressively working on strengthening the country’s position in the semiconductor industry, as a series of ambitious projects have been announced recently, the AI Chip innovation center in the U.S. being its latest endeavor.

Earlier in May, the South Korean government is said to be planning to introduce a comprehensive chip investment and research support plan, surpassing KRW 10 trillion (roughly USD 7.3 billion) in scale, to enhance its position in the critical semiconductor industry, as per a report from the Economic Daily News.

Meanwhile, the report from South Korean media outlet BusinessKorea stated that on May 2nd, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced the “Second Strategic Planning and Investment Council,” comprising of representatives from research institutes, universities, etc, approved 62 new R&D projects for 2025, including flagship projects and roadmaps in over 11 domains.

Read more

• [News] South Korea Reportedly Pushes for KRW 10 Trillion Investment Plan to Strengthen Semiconductor Industry Position
• [News] South Korea Reportedly Develops AI Chips for Autonomous Vehicles, Challenging NVIDIA

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