In a strategic move to fortify semiconductor capabilities, Dutch chip equipment titan ASML and tech behemoth Samsung Electronics have unveiled plans to inject a formidable $760 million into the construction of an advanced semiconductor manufacturing plant in South Korea. This groundbreaking announcement surfaced during the four-day visit of South Korean President Yoon Sook-Yeol to the Netherlands, aiming to cement a robust “semiconductor alliance” between the two nations, as reported by CNBC.
ASML, the sole global producer of ultraviolet lithography machines crucial for fabricating cutting-edge chips, has joined forces with Samsung, the world’s foremost manufacturer of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips omnipresent in consumer gadgets like smartphones and computers. South Korean chip manufacturers lean heavily on ASML’s machinery to craft swifter and more efficient chips, positioning them at the forefront of technological prowess.
During Tuesday’s visit to ASML’s headquarters alongside King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, President Yoon explored a production site dedicated to next-generation electric cars. Highlighting the significance of the visit, he articulated the ambition to establish a meticulously structured institutional framework, fostering intensive collaboration in the global semiconductor supply chain. This initiative gains prominence amid the elevation of semiconductors as strategic assets and the escalating geopolitical risks entwined with global supply chains.