[한국방송/김한규기자] The Ministry of Science and Technology and Information and Communication decided to create more tangible results, such as the development of four additional AI semiconductors this year, support and demonstration of commercialization of two cases, and cultivation of 270 experts.
The Ministry of Science and Technology announced on the 12th that it has decided to invest a total of 125.3 billion won in 13 support projects for the leap to a leading artificial intelligence semiconductor country, and that the project will be pursued in earnest, including a public offering.
This is a follow-up to the’Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor Development Strategy’ announced in October last year, and the scale of support increased by about 75% from last year (9 projects, KRW 71.8 billion).
Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor (NPU) is a high-performance, low-power system semiconductor specialized in the realization of artificial intelligence such as learning and reasoning, and is expected to create a new market by converging with various industries such as mobile, automobile, and home appliances, and is the core infrastructure of digital new deal such as digital dam. All.
Accordingly, the government established a mid- to long-term development strategy with related ministries from last year with the goal of fostering a’second DRAM’ by occupying 20% of the global market in 2030 to preoccupy the global market of artificial intelligence semiconductors, which is still in its infancy. Etc. are making active policy efforts.
This year’s support project consists of 13 projects in three major areas: ▲Core technology development (R&D) support ▲innovative companies fostering ▲industrial foundation formation. Four new projects will be promoted, including the development of a new concept PIM semiconductor that can change the future semiconductor paradigm, strengthening software capabilities, supporting domestic semiconductor demonstrations, and fostering innovative companies.
◆ Core technology development (R&D) support
First, it supports full-cycle R&D such as development of source technology necessary for each stage of growth of artificial intelligence semiconductor companies → development of commercial application technology → demonstration.
In the case of artificial intelligence semiconductors (NPU), in connection with a large-scale R&D project that launched last year with the goal of securing world-class technology and investing KRW 1 trillion over the next 10 years, continuous support for innovation in design, device, and process technology, and new neuronal simulation New support for 19 tasks including device technology development.
In addition, the R&D project to preempt the new concept of PIM (Processing In Memory) semiconductor technology that integrates storage (memory) and operation (processor) using memory semiconductor capabilities will be promoted step by step. First of all, as a leading project to preoccupy the initial market, the development of PIM semiconductor leading technology with high potential for commercialization will be established in connection with domestic commercial and major processes (DRAM, embedded memory).
In the second stage, in order to secure super-differential technology, we plan and promote mid-to-long-term preliminary projects worth KRW 1 trillion, including the development of PIM based on the process of new generation memory devices.
In addition, support for industry-academia-research cooperation application technology development support such as technology transfer and manpower support for R&D original technology owned by research institutes and universities so that fabless companies, a design specialized company, can commercialize products early, from 1.9 billion won in two projects last year. This year, seven tasks will be expanded to 7.1 billion won.
Support projects such as system SW enhancement and design tool development are also being promoted for domestic companies to strengthen their capabilities in the weak software field. For the development of AI semiconductor software core technology, five new tasks will be discovered this year and KRW 7.5 billion will be provided.
A demonstration project that supports the creation of initial market demand by piloting domestically developed artificial intelligence semiconductor technologies and products to public and private data centers and digital new deal projects will also be promoted with two projects worth 2.8 billion won.
President Moon Jae-in is receiving Korea’s first cloud-oriented artificial intelligence commercial semiconductor from SK Telecom’s vice president Kim Yoon at an event held at KINTEX, Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the afternoon of November 25 last year. (Photo = Blue House)
◆ Fostering innovative companies
To foster innovative companies that will lead the artificial intelligence semiconductor market, 8 start-ups, small and medium-sized venture fabless companies were selected, and technology difficulties through customized focused support such as microprocess conversion, new design asset (IP) development and utilization, and software optimization. A project to solve the problem will also be established with a scale of 5.5 billion won in eight projects.
In addition, it plans to gradually expand the support design tools for projects that support the joint use of expensive design tools for early fabless companies and provide specialized training.
◆ Creation of industrial foundation
In order to lay the foundation for the development of artificial intelligence technology and industry, projects to cultivate high-quality human resources such as artificial intelligence semiconductor design personnel will also be promoted.
Three additional artificial intelligence and system semiconductor research manpower training centers have been installed in the university to nurture advanced masters and doctoral-level talents capable of developing original technologies, and attract top-notch talents such as Ph.D. The establishment of’related subjects’ is also promoted.
In addition, the’Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor Design Contest’ is also continuing to promote the realization of creative ideas for university students and prospective entrepreneurs and the influx of manpower into the artificial intelligence semiconductor field.
The Ministry of Science and Technology continuously communicates, collaborates, and provides professional projects with the’Next Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Project Group’ launched last year and the’Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor Forum’ composed of experts from industry, academia, and research institutes to systematically manage and improve the performance of large-scale projects. ·Through technology consulting, we plan to check and develop flexible business goals and implementation details that consider global technology and markets.
Performance announcements, investment conferences, technology transfer and utilization support, and linkages with demanding companies are also promoted so that project results can be shared and spread.
In addition, it will improve solidarity and cooperation between design companies, foundries, and demand companies, focusing on artificial intelligence semiconductors, and continue to discover and support policy tasks necessary for the development of the technology and industrial ecosystem.
Through the successful promotion of these major projects, following initial achievements such as the first development of artificial intelligence semiconductors in Korea last year, this year, more visible achievements such as the development of 4 additional artificial intelligence semiconductors, support and verification of commercialization of 2 cases, and training of 270 experts are achieved. It is expected to be created.
Minister of Science and Technology Choi Ki-young said, “Last year was a year that focused on laying the foundation for the breakthrough development of the artificial intelligence semiconductor industry through the establishment of mid-to-long-term development strategies and the planning and launch of core technology development R&D.”
“This year, we will fully implement the policies established last year, such as fostering large R&D and innovative companies, fostering human resources, and creating an initial market in connection with the Digital New Deal, enabling Korea to become a leading country in the field of artificial intelligence semiconductors as well as memory semiconductors. We will realize a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse in 2012.”
Inquiries: Source Technology Division, Artificial Intelligence Industry Team, Ministry of Science and ICT 044-202-6281