SK Hynix is partnering with the government, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, and commercial banks to support the strengthening of competitiveness and mutual growth development of semiconductor materials, components and equipment firms. Samsung Electronics is also accelerating its efforts to cultivate the materials, components and equipment ecosystem through mutual growth funds and technology support programs.
In this regard, SK Hynix announced on the 19th that it held a signing ceremony for an "Export Supply Chain Strengthening Guarantee" agreement and a first guarantee certificate handover ceremony at the Yongin Cluster promotional center within the Yongin General Industrial Complex in Gyeonggi Province.
The Export Supply Chain Strengthening Guarantee is a financial program designed to support small and mid-sized semiconductor materials, components and equipment companies that are struggling to secure funding due to high interest rates and a global economic slowdown. SK Hynix and commercial banks contribute funds, while the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation provides guarantees, establishing a total financial support system of 2 trillion won.
Materials, components and equipment firms can benefit from expanded loan limits and preferential interest rates, as well as reduced guarantee fee burdens incurred during the lending process. On this day, a "First Guarantee Certificate Handover Ceremony" was also held for partner companies receiving support under the Export Supply Chain Strengthening Guarantee.
Prior to the signing ceremony, SK Hynix President and CEO Kwak No-jung, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, representatives from the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, four major commercial banks including KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and Hana Bank, and officials from materials, components and equipment partner companies toured the construction site of SK Hynix's first fab (factory) at the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster and the development site of the "Trinity Fab." The Trinity Fab is an advanced semiconductor Yangsan-linked fab being built within the Yongin first fab through a joint investment of 870 billion won by the government, local governments, and SK Hynix.
It provides an environment where the performance of technologies and products from materials, components and equipment firms can be tested and verified in advance to ensure they are used without issues in actual production. Until now, domestic materials, components and equipment small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced difficulties in commercialization because it was hard to test their independently developed new technologies and products in real semiconductor production environments. The Trinity Fab is expected to play a key role as a hub that resolves these issues, enhancing the technological self-reliance of materials, components and equipment firms and significantly accelerating the localization of advanced technologies and products.
During the meeting on this day, representatives from partner companies also conveyed on-site requests regarding the stabilization of the semiconductor supply chain and technological self-reliance. Participants agreed to strengthen mutual growth cooperation between large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to maintain the global competitiveness of "K-Semiconductors."
Kwak (President) emphasized, "To secure the global competitiveness of South Korea's semiconductor industry at a national level and further strengthen the standing of 'K-Semiconductors,' it is essential to build a robust materials, components and equipment ecosystem," adding, "Based on this export supply chain fund support and the creation of a one-stop technology verification environment through the Trinity Fab, we will join forces with our partners to further solidify our technological leadership in the global semiconductor market."
Samsung Electronics is also expanding support for mutual growth with its partners. A representative program is the "Mutual Growth Fund." In 2010, Samsung Electronics established a mutual growth fund of 1.4 trillion won and began providing low-interest loans to partners for equipment investment, R&D (research and development), and operating funds. In 2018, it additionally raised 400 billion won, expanding the scope of support to third-tier partners.
It also operates an incentive system aimed at improving the work quality of partner company employees stationed at its facilities and preventing safety accidents. The company provides incentives twice a year to outstanding partners. To date, cumulative payments have exceeded 800 billion won.
A separate fund has also been established to support the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management of partners. In 2024, Samsung Electronics created an ESG fund of 1 trillion won, providing interest-free funding to partners for up to three years. The purpose is to help partners reduce energy consumption, strengthen workplace environment and safety, and invest in facilities and technology.
It also operates the "MPW (Multi Project Wafer)" program to assist partners in developing new products and technologies. The company conducts the program more than 30 times a year, including using the latest 4-nanometer (nm; one nanometer is one-billionth of a meter) process. It is also expanding cooperation with domestic materials, components and equipment firms as well as universities at home and abroad, such as KAIST.
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