Intel Will Build R&D Center In Korea This Year

The world`s greatest chip maker Intel Chairman Craig Barrett announced on August 29th, “I would set up a wireless Internet research and development center in Korea this year.”

The Chairman visited Cheong Wa Dae and met with President Roh Moo-hyun and the Minister of Information and Telecommunication Jin Dae-je.

Intel will send out its working delegation to Korea by this October to review relevant conditions before making a final decision about the location and research areas of the expected R&D center. The Chairman said, “I would send 20 researchers at first.” This project was made out by the request of President Roh who visited America back in May.

Intel said, “We have yet to release the exact investment scale, but the center will study wireless Internet technologies such as WiFI and WiMAx, digital home and central processing units for digital devices (System Onchip, Soc).”

Soc is a new type of CPU equipped with a calculating and networking function at the same time in preparation for the “Ubiquitous Age” where all office and electrical devices will be linked to the Internet, which is a next-generation core project of Intel.

President Roh said, “I will do my best to prove that you made a right choice investing in Korea. Korea will continue to make an effort to keep up with international standards in terms of nurturing human resources and setting up proper research methodology and related laws and regulations in the information and technology sector.”

Intel Chairman Craig Barrett having an itinerary in East Asia also announced on August 27th that he would build up a semiconductor assembly and testing complex by investing some 200 million dollars (some 234 billion won) in Chedu of Si Chuan, China.

He also expressed his will to set up a technological design center in Malaysia investing some 400 million dollars (some 47 billion won) as part of a plan to buttress Intel’s investments in the Asian region.

Intel said that it would be difficult to set up factory lines in Korea due to expensive labor fees, however it highly praised the Korean market as a potential testing market for its Ubiquitous business project with high penetration of speedy Internet networks around the country.

Seong-Yub Ra Young-Hae Choi cpu@donga.com yhchoi65@donga.com