CRI

 [ABSTRACT]

With the rapid expansion of AI technologies, the strategic importance of AI semiconductors which enable large-scale computation has risen significantly. Major countries are strengthening national strategies to restructure semiconductor supply chains and secure leadership in AI technologies. Korea is also shifting from a memory-centered structure to system and AI semiconductors as new engines of growth. Although the domestic industry is rapidly transitioning to an NPU-centered structure driven by the spread of generative AI, regional testbeds and application ecosystems remain insufficient due to concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Chungcheongbuk-do, with its cluster of semiconductor, materials, and equipment industries, has strong potential to grow as an AI semiconductor testbed hub. However, its ecosystem connecting design–verification–application, along with professional talent and testing infrastructure, is still underdeveloped. Therefore, the province must establish a region-specific strategy aligned with national policies to position itself as a “hub for demonstration and verification of practical AI semiconductors.”

The region’s development direction consists of three key strategies.

First, establishing a design and technology development hub focused on practical NPUs. This includes securing domestic NPU reference models optimized for on-device and industrial applications, while fostering a virtuous cycle of talent and technology through design-verification education and joint industry–academia research centered on local universities.

Second, promoting the establishment of the “Chungbuk AI Computing Center” to secure infrastructure for semiconductor design verification and AI model training, while linking it with national AI data centers to build an integrated industry–academia–research ecosystem.

Third, building an AI semiconductor testing and demonstration platform utilizing existing backend-process infrastructure, forming a testing alliance, and connecting with synchrotron-based analysis capabilities to develop Chungcheongbuk-do into a leading hub for AI semiconductor verification based on advanced packaging and testing.