KTC Establishes Korea's First Reliability Verification Center for Future Car Electronic Components and System Semiconductors
By 2027, 3.32 billion KRW will be invested to establish the center on a 2,622㎡ site in Buron General Industrial Complex, Wonju, Gangwon Province.
The center will provide one-stop support for 'semiconductors and electronic components,' a new growth engine for future cars, laying the foundation for market advancement.
▲ Perspective View of the Buron General Industrial Complex in Wonju, where KTC will establish the Reliability Verification Center for Future Car Electronic Components and System Semiconductors by 2027
The Korea Testing & Research Institute for Electric and Electronic Products (KTC, led by President An Seong-il) announced on the 3rd that it will establish a one-stop support center for 'semiconductors and electronic components,' a new growth engine for future cars.
KTC has been selected as the main managing agency for the 'Future Car Electronic Components and System Semiconductors Reliability Verification Center Construction Project,' which was publicly solicited by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE).
This project will be carried out by 2027, with a total project cost of 33.275 billion KRW (14.475 billion KRW from the national budget, 3.5 billion KRW from KTC, 7.65 billion KRW from Gangwon Province, and 7.65 billion KRW from Wonju City) on a 2,622㎡ site and a gross floor area of 2,310㎡ in the Buron General Industrial Complex in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
Project initiatives include: Establishing the Reliability Verification Center for Future Car Electronic Components and System Semiconductors. Setting up 27 types of equipment for performance, environmental, fault analysis, and functional safety verification of 'single products-modules-systems.'
Additionally: Providing demonstration support and reliability evaluation for semiconductor and electronic component demand companies, developing test evaluation methods, and building a database. Training personnel through semiconductor design and verification education and response design education.
Offering functional safety system simulation, software verification, and customized consulting.
The center will be established as a three-story building (one underground and three above ground) equipped with test and evaluation equipment and personnel capable of integrated support for automotive semiconductors and electronic components.
The electric vehicle market has recently been showing a slowdown in growth due to a decline in consumer sentiment caused by the global economic downturn. However, with predictions for future growth, competition among companies to secure new technologies is intensifying.
As major automotive components shift from mechanical to semiconductor electronic components, the global market for automotive semiconductors is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 11%, and the electronic components market at 43%, emerging as new growth drivers for the future industry.
However, the domestic market share is only about 3.2%, highlighting the urgent need to secure competitiveness in the rapidly growing automotive semiconductor and electronic components industries in the era of future cars.
Moreover, without reliability ensuring safety and durability, commercialization of products is challenging, necessitating the establishment of infrastructure and a business ecosystem that can provide integrated support for automotive semiconductors and electronic components.
In response, KTC proposed the establishment of a One-Stop Center capable of integrated support for automotive semiconductors and electronic components to the government, along with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Wonju City, to address the increased demand for system semiconductors and new components following the transition to future cars. This secured 4.3 billion KRW in national funding in 2024.
Furthermore, KTC formed a consortium with the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, the Korea Fabless Industry Association, and the Korea Packaging Industry Association, and was ultimately selected for the government-funded project, enabling the project to proceed.
KTC is the first domestic testing and certification agency to establish a One-Stop Reliability Verification Center capable of integrated support for automotive semiconductors and electronic components.
KTC plans to form an expert consultation body comprising industry-academia-research experts and support technology advancement through expert committees and technical seminars. Additionally, KTC aims to contribute to the improvement of safety and reliability in the system semiconductor and automotive industries, establishing a virtuous cycle in R&D.
KTC expects that once the project is completed, the comprehensive support from system semiconductors to future car electronic components and complete car simulations will enhance the global competitiveness of domestic companies through export support.
KTC President An Seong-il stated, "As the importance of electronic and intelligent automotive components grows, there is a need for a comprehensive support base for semiconductors and electronic components," and added, "We will strive to minimize entry barriers and establish a stable industrial ecosystem from early market entry to growth through comprehensive support."
