Samsung Electronics is expected to set up an external advisory team to strengthen the competitiveness of its foundry (semiconductor commissioning) business in the semiconductor (DS) business. Samsung Electronics, the world`s top memory semiconductor maker, is the world`s largest semiconductor chip maker, outpacing Intel in the second quarter of this year, but seems to be a stepping stone to boost technology in the relatively weak system semiconductor field. It is unusual for Samsung Electronics to set up an external advisory group for its semiconductor business, which is its flagship business.

According to a person familiar with Samsung Electronics on September 26, Samsung Electronics has decided to establish a consulting faculty team in the semiconductor business. It is reported that 10 people, including the chairman of the advisory committee, are planning to set up the advisory professors by confirming the number of participants in the year. The expert said, "Samsung Electronics has been preparing to form a consulting professorship for semiconductor business from the beginning of this year." The advisory professors are still in the process of being formed.” Samsung Electronics plans to launch an advisory team and strengthen its foundry business through regular meetings.

The world foundry market is dominated by TSMC Taiwan, which accounts for 50.6% of sales last year. The share of Samsung Electronics is 7.9%, which is insignificant. Samsung Electronics succeeded in mass production of the world`s first 10-nanometer (nm) process last October, followed by the 8-nanometer this year and the 7-nanometer roadmap next year.

Samsung Electronics is facing the challenge of growing memory and memory areas in order to become a world-class integrated semiconductor company. There is a sense of crisis that it can only be taken away if it is comfortable with the memory semiconductor business.

The outlook for the foundry market is bright, as it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from last year to 2021. Considering this, Samsung Electronics is concentrating on expanding its customer base by adding 11nm to the existing foundry process road map after separating the foundry from the system LSI business division in May. An industry expert said, "We know there is an internal consensus that Samsung Electronics is not easy to maintain the top spot in the semiconductor industry unless we strengthen our system semiconductor business."


By Park Seul Gee seul@


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