The UK is taking strategic steps to enhance its semiconductor ties with South Korea.
- The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invites UK semiconductor firms to apply for an R&D mission to South Korea.
- This initiative aims to foster collaboration with Korean businesses and researchers in the semiconductor field.
- The mission is set for February 2025, with successful applicants announced in January 2025.
- This effort aligns with the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe, aiming for stronger international partnerships.
The United Kingdom is making a significant move to expand its semiconductor industry collaborations by inviting domestic semiconductor researchers and companies to participate in a research and development mission to South Korea. The British Government, through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has opened applications for those in this innovative sector to engage directly with South Korean businesses and experts.
Scheduled for February 2025, this three-day program creates a platform for UK-registered stakeholders who are focused on commercializing semiconductor technology. The UK government highlights the importance of areas such as heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging, wide band gap materials, packaging for power electronics, future telecoms, smart networks, and photonics. Participants will have opportunities to create significant networks and partnerships that are essential for driving technological advancement and commercial success.
The initiative follows the UK’s recent agreement with Horizon Europe, which provides an enhanced framework for collaborative opportunities with global tech leaders such as South Korea. This partnership reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in maintaining competitive technological advantage in the global market. By joining forces, the UK and South Korea aim to leverage each other’s strengths to bolster their positions in the semiconductor market.
South Korea, recognized as a major force in the international semiconductor arena, controls a substantial portion of the market, with a 17.7% global share reported in 2022 by Invest Korea. The alignment with South Korea is strategic for the UK, considering the Asian country’s advanced technological infrastructure and expertise.
The foundation for this R&D mission was set in 2023, when the UK and South Korea signed a joint framework for semiconductor collaboration, reinforcing commitments to mutual advancement in this field. The partnership was further supported through high-profile events such as the AI Seoul Summit, which followed the AI Safety Summit in the UK.
This trip is part of a broader UK government strategy to strengthen high-tech sector collaborations globally, enhancing its innovative capabilities in the increasingly competitive semiconductor industry.
The UK’s concerted efforts to build semiconductor links with South Korea represent a forward-thinking approach to harnessing global technological expertise.
