Dutch manufacturer of chip-making equipment ASML and South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics are teaming up to invest 1 trillion South Korean won ($760 million) to build a plant focused on developing cutting-edge semiconductor processing technology in South Korea.
This announcement coincides with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s current visit to the Netherlands, during which he is working to establish a “semiconductor alliance” between the two countries.
ASML, the exclusive producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines crucial for manufacturing advanced chips like those found in the latest Apple iPhones, is at the forefront of technological innovation driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution globally. South Korea’s presidential office highlighted the collaboration between ASML and South Korean semiconductor companies in constructing new facilities for production, research, and talent development in Korea.
The collaboration also extends to South Korean chip giant SK Hynix, with ASML working with the world’s second-largest DRAM chipmaker to enhance EUV efficiency and reduce power consumption and costs using hydrogen gas recycling technology.
President Yoon emphasized the critical role of semiconductors in Korea-Netherlands cooperation, citing the partnership between the two countries and the importance of establishing a well-organized institutional framework to address global semiconductor supply chains in the face of increasing geopolitical risks.
