KAIST

KAIST announced on the 8th of September that its Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology held an opening ceremony for advanced equipment at 3 p.m. on the 8th at the Department of Electrical Engineering (E3-2) in the main campus in Daejeon. The event unveiled state-of-the-art research infrastructure that can be utilized by industry, academia, and research institutions.

The event was attended by approximately 80 people, including KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee, Daejeon Mayor Jang Woo Lee, and officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, companies, and research institutions. The ceremony included a plaque of appreciation presented to Synopsys Korea, congratulatory speeches, and an introduction to the equipment. Attendees toured the newly established equipment and facilities, expressing high expectations for the development of local industries.

<Group photo of attendees at the opening ceremony of advanced equipment at the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology>

The advanced equipment introduced this time is a key infrastructure for research in semiconductor devices, materials, and packaging. It provides a comprehensive research environment that covers the entire semiconductor development process, from design and simulation to fabrication and evaluation. It is expected to function as a practical hub for collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions, as it will be open not only to KAIST professors and students but also to local companies and research organizations.

In particular, the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology is a core institution that simultaneously promotes next-generation technology development and talent cultivation in the semiconductor sector, a national strategic industry. It serves as a hub for strengthening the competitiveness of the Korean semiconductor industry. Semiconductors, which are the foundation of all advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, batteries, autonomous driving, and defense, are in a field of fierce global supply chain competition. Therefore, establishing an educational and research hub where industry, academia, and research can closely cooperate is essential. The opening of this advanced equipment facility holds national significance, extending beyond simple research to support the establishment of a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem.

Daejeon City is actively supporting this project with an investment of 4.9 billion KRW. This reflects the city's commitment to consolidating its excellent research infrastructure and talent in the semiconductor industry to use it as a new growth engine for the local economy. The city's key strategy is to foster Daejeon into a practical hub for the Korean semiconductor industry through cooperation with KAIST.

<KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee giving a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of advanced equipment at the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology>

KAIST also received a donation of a semiconductor process/device simulation software (TCAD) license from Synopsys Korea, a leading global semiconductor design software company, which provides it with world-class semiconductor education and research infrastructure.

The support project for the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology is being pursued over a five-year period from 2023 to 2028, with a total budget of 21.5 billion KRW (15 billion KRW from the national government, 4.9 billion KRW from the city, and 1.6 billion KRW from KAIST's own funds). A faculty of 34 professors from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering plan to cultivate more than 225 highly skilled master's and doctoral level professionals. Currently, 123 students are enrolled in the graduate school, and it has achieved tangible results, such as carrying out collaborative projects with about 20 companies in an industry-academia consortium.

Daejeon Mayor Jang Woo Lee emphasized, "I hope that the combination of Daejeon's research infrastructure and talent will lead to the development of local industries. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with and actively support KAIST."

Gyeong-shin So, CEO of Synopsys Korea, stated, "I hope KAIST students will gain advanced simulation experience using TCAD and grow into key talents who will lead the global semiconductor industry."

<Photo of the tour of the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology's equipment room>

President Kwang Hyung Lee said, "Daejeon is the optimal location for the semiconductor industry, equipped with the best research infrastructure and personnel in Korea. With the opening of this advanced equipment facility as an opportunity, KAIST will further contribute to strengthening national semiconductor competitiveness by creating innovative research results and fostering global talent."

This opening of the advanced equipment facility and the donation from Synopsys Korea are evaluated as important milestones that will lead to the qualitative growth of the Korean semiconductor industry. KAIST plans to cultivate global-level semiconductor talent and contribute to the development of the semiconductor industry on a national scale beyond Daejeon by developing new curricula and textbooks and promoting joint industry-academia projects in the future.