The government is seeking to build a compound semiconductor research and development (R&D) infrastructure through joint public-private investment to localise defence semiconductors.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Thursday held an industry-academia-research forum in Seoul to build an R&D shared fab for compound semiconductors.

Hosted by the Korea Nano Technology Institute and organised by the Compound Semiconductor Technology Council, the event was attended by about 120 people from about 60 organisations, including the science ministry, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, defence companies, semiconductor materials, device and equipment firms, research institutes and universities.

Compound semiconductors, which are advantageous for high-power and high-frequency operation, are key components used in future strategic industries such as 6G communications and aerospace. The government in July announced a strategy to localise defence semiconductors and build an industry ecosystem, and decided to push ahead with defence semiconductor technology development and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The ministry plans to promote the establishment of a special purpose company (SPC) jointly funded by the government and private sector by applying an "investment-type R&D model" to be introduced from next year. It aims to secure compound semiconductor technology and operate an R&D shared fab as manufacturing infrastructure.

Presentations at the forum covered the importance of compound semiconductors as a national strategic technology, the development direction for defence semiconductors and plans to build the R&D shared fab. Experts from industry, academia and research discussed the processes and product lines the shared fab should secure first, policy support and the division of roles with existing public fabs and private mass-production fabs.

Kim Seong-su (김성수), director general for R&D policy at the ministry, said securing independent technology and a domestic manufacturing base for compound semiconductors was a core task supporting national security and future industrial competitiveness. He said the ministry would create an ecosystem in which technology development results lead to private-sector mass production.