The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 30th that it has attracted a total of 850.1 billion won in private investment in advanced materials and components this year through the 'materials and components investment-linked technology development project.'
This figure represents an increase of 65.3 billion won compared to last year, marking an all-time high. The average investment per corporation also rose by 1.02 billion won from the previous year to 4.65 billion won.
By industry, AI semiconductors attracted 260.2 billion won from 24 corporations, accounting for the largest share. This was followed by ▲digital healthcare 62.7 billion won (13 corporations) ▲robotics and automation machinery 44.1 billion won (12 corporations) ▲next-generation battery sector 43.3 billion won (12 corporations). This is interpreted as a result of the government's policy to promote advanced materials and components industries, driving an expansion of private investment.
AI semiconductor corporation Openedges Technology secured approximately 60 billion won in funding. The company plans to accelerate the development of technology for 'high-speed, low-power memory-based lightweight language model dedicated AI semiconductors' using these funds. This investment is recognized as laying the groundwork for the ecosystem of the domestic fabless industry, as well as the independence of AI semiconductor technology and entry into the global market.
Another example is electric vehicle materials and components corporation ETS, which has localized the core technology of the battery manufacturing process for electric vehicles, specifically the electrolyte injection equipment, and attracted about 17 billion won in investment. This technology is expected to contribute not only to the productivity and quality improvement of electric vehicle batteries but also to import substitution and export increase.
Na Seong-hwa, director of the industrial supply chain policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, noted, "The technological independence and expansion of private investment in advanced industries are the core of our country's future industrial competitiveness," emphasizing, "The government will not spare continuous policy support to back private innovation efforts."