LG Innotek said on Jan. 8 it has signed a research and development cooperation agreement with UTI, a company specialising in glass precision processing. The aim is to strengthen competitiveness in its glass substrate business. Glass substrates are next-generation semiconductor substrates that replace the internal core layer with glass. They minimise heat-induced warping and allow more precise circuit patterning on a smooth surface.

UTI has technology in glass precision processing. It has capabilities to manufacture thin but high-strength reinforced glass for mobile devices. It supplies smartphone cover glass to major global smartphone manufacturers and has recently been pushing to expand its business into glass substrates.

The two companies plan to jointly develop technology to increase the strength of glass substrates. Glass substrates require drilling microscopic holes during processing, which reduces glass strength. If strength falls, it can lead to quality problems. Glass reinforcement technology to prevent this is important.

LG Innotek declared its entry into the glass substrate market last year. It has since built a pilot production line for glass substrates at its domestic sites. It is speeding up technology development by strengthening cooperation with global customers and with domestic and overseas companies that hold glass substrate-related technologies.

LG Innotek plans to strengthen business competitiveness by applying glass substrate technology to FC-BGA, its core high value-added semiconductor substrate business. It selected high value-added substrate businesses for AI, semiconductors and telecommunications as new business areas to drive future growth. It set a goal of expanding to 3 trillion won in annual sales by 2030.

Chief Executive Mun Hyeoksu said, "Glass substrates are a technology that will change the landscape of semiconductor packaging." He added, "LG Innotek will continue to introduce innovative products that create outstanding customer value by adding glass precision processing technology to its substrate and materials technology built over 50 years."