Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong tours Samsung Display’s display panel production line in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, on March 19. (Photo: Samsung Electronics)

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jay-yong toured Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, on March 25 and convened a six-hour marathon session to take stock of strategies to develop next-generation technologies such as AI and semiconductor materials. He stressed future preparations and “innovation exceeding the limits.”

Samsung Electronics is the world’s first DRAM and memory maker to raise productivity and function by employing the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology in use for the production of system semiconductors such as mobile application processor (AP).

The feat has paved for the way for the electronics company to lay a foundation to solidify its strategy to outbid rivals in an unmatched fashion. Vice Chairman Lee has been in charge of all matters related to the EUV process technology considered as core technology to raise the competitiveness of the semiconductor business.

Vice Chairman Lee presided over a strategy meeting of next-generation technologies with Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam, head of Samsung Electronics’ display solutions business,; SAIT President Hwang Sung-woo,; President Kang Ho-kyu of Semiconductor Research Institute,; and President Kwak Jin-oh of Samsung Display Research Center. The meeting, a working luncheon, started at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 2:30 p.m.

During the meeting, Vice Chairman Lee got briefings on the development of new technologies and weighed up future technology development strategies. In particular, they discussed on leading technologies such as AI semiconductor/software algorism, quantum computing, future security technology and innovative semiconductor, display and electronics materials.

The participants also touched on the direction of development of the Fine Dust Research Institute, established last year to tackle fine dust issues.

Vice Chairman Lee stressed “thorough preparations for the future even when things are getting tougher and harder” and “our innovation living up to people’s support.” He also called for “put forth every ounce of one’s energies again to go over the barriers when hitting the limitations.”

SAIT was established in 1987 to develop proprietary technologies. The institute has 17 research labs and 1,200 researchers to work on diverse next-generation research projects.

Under the stewardship of Vice Chairman Lee, Samsung Electronics has achieved a feat of ramping unmatched competitiveness of memories such as DRAM by the EUV process technology.

Samsung Electronics has completed global customer evaluation by supplying more than 1 million 10th-generation 10-nano (1x) DDR4 DRAM modules using the EUV process.

Samsung Electronics is the industry’s first company to have built DRAM mass production lines using the EUV technology, which has so far applied to system semiconductor, an opportunity to shift the memory production

Vice Chairman Lee also Tours Samsung Display plant in Tangjeong

Vice Chairman Lee also made an inspection tour to Samsung Display plant in Tangjeong, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, on March 19. The plant is the target of a 13 trillion won quantum dot display investment plan, announced by Lee last year.

A quantum dot display is a display device that uses quantum dots (QD), semiconductor nanocrystals which can produce pure monochromatic red, green, and blue light.

Vice Chairman Lee took stock of the project process of the quantum dot display production line within the Asan operation. Lee gave words of encouragement to executives.

He called for not stopping even if unexpected factors cause hardships and continued challenging without wavering. He also urged them to exceed conventional mold in a prudent yet resolutely fashion.

He was accompanied by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam, Samsung Display President Lee Dong-hoon and President Kwak Jin-oh of Display Research Institute and Shin Jae-ho, head of Samsung Electronics’ Management Support Office.