SK hynix to front-load up to half of R&D costs and double supplier fund
SK hynix announced it will provide partner firms with up to 50% of their R&D expenses in advance and will raise its supplier-payment fund to 100 billion won.
SK hynix Inc. disclosed an expanded assistance package for roughly 100 partner firms during a Seoul event chaired by CEO Kwak Noh-jung. The program will provide upfront financing of up to 50% of initial R&D expenditures, with a settlement system that rewards partners for any technological achievements even if a product does not reach market. In later stages, the chipmaker will grant access to its production lines for testing and verification, and will offer low-interest financing through its shared-growth fund.
Moreover, SK hynix will double the size of its fund that supports payments to suppliers, raising it from 50 billion to 100 billion won (about US$73.6 million). The initiative aims to lower development risk and strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain.
Why it matters
The funding reduces risk for partners and could accelerate Korea's semiconductor innovation.
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