Samsung's sole EUV equipment supplier ASML is setting up shop in Korea

Business

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Samsung may have lost the race for acquiring EUV equipment to TSMC, but the battle is not over yet. The Korean government has seemingly jumped to Samsung's rescue earlier this week when the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy told the local media that ASML is looking to invest 240 billion won ($212 million) in South Korea over the next four years with the purpose of building an EUV manufacturing infrastructure.

ASML is the world's only supplier of EUV lithography equipment that's required for manufacturing high-end semiconductor solutions. Unfortunately for Samsung, ASML has already sold 70% of its equipment for EUV semiconductor manufacturing to TSMC, leaving the Korean tech giant without many options.

ASML is now coming to Samsung

As part of South Korea's newfound efforts to remain a key player in the global semiconductor space, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has agreed to bring ASML into the country and help the company establish a remanufacturing plant and a training center for EUV lithography.

ASML will be responsible for refitting existing manufacturing plants in South Korea with the latest EUV equipment, and of course, its presence in Korea is expected to strengthen its collaboration with Samsung even further.

The Dutch EUV lithography equipment manufacturer will reportedly invest the aforementioned 240 billion won over the next four years though, so it's not as if Samsung's immediate concerns regarding its current position in the semiconductor market have been alleviated. But it's a start, and ASML's arrival in Korea will undeniably have great long-term benefits.

Mihai Matei - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-A800

Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.

Business General EUV Samsung Foundry Samsung Semiconductor

samsung foundry chip factory hwaseong 3nm production south korea

Samsung's sole EUV equipment supplier ASML is setting up shop in Korea

ASML is now coming to Samsung

Mihai Matei - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-A800

You might also like

Samsung made $2.2 billion from selling a portion of ASML shares

South Korea and the USA discuss incentives and tax cuts for Samsung

Samsung has chosen Austin Texas as its next 5nm EUV factory location

Samsung doubling down on cutting-edge tech that literally cuts edges