Gyeonggi Province, the Future Hub of Korea’s Semiconductor Industry!

A major leap forward for Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem— global chemical giant BASF has officially opened a brand-new semiconductor electro...

A major leap forward for Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem— global chemical giant BASF has officially opened a brand-new semiconductor electronic materials research lab in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province! 🎉

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< What is BASF?>

Founded in 1865, BASF is a world-renowned German chemical company known for innovation—developing the world’s first expandable polystyrene Styropor and producing the first nitrogen fertilizer in 1913.

As of 2024, BASF boasts an impressive EUR 65.3 billion (approx. KRW 102 trillion) in annual sales, ranking #1 in the global chemical industry.

BASF entered Korea in 1954 and now operates eight production facilities and employs 1,240 staff, and generating about KRW 2 trillion in annual revenue.

From its beginnings in Ludwigshafen near Heidelberg, Germany, BASF is now pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge semiconductor materials development right here in Gyeonggi Province.

Previously located on the Sungkyunkwan University campus in Suwon City, BASF’s electronic materials lab has now been expanded and relocated to a brand-new dedicated building on the company’s Ansan City site. 

But this move is more than just a relocation. It's part of a KRW 50 billion investment project in Gyeonggi Province, aimed at strengthening R&D in next-generation semiconductor materials over the next five years.

Held on April 4, the opening ceremony gathered around 50 industry leaders and officials, including:

• Lothar Laupichler, Senior Vice President, BASF Electronic Materials Division

• Jens Liebermann, Vice President, BASF

• Kim Dae-soon, Deputy Mayor of Ansan City

• Park Keun-kyun, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s International Cooperation Bureau

Director General Park expressed his hopes that the new research center would become a core hub in the formation of Gyeonggi Province’s global semiconductor cluster.

BASF representatives also shared their excitement to deepen collaboration with Korean partners and achieve even greater R&D breakthroughs.

This isn't BASF’s first step in contributing to the local economy. The company has been a model foreign-invested enterprise, actively promoting industry-academia collaboration and regional innovation in Gyeonggi Province.

The launch of the new Ansan City lab is more than just facility expansion—

It’s a bold stride toward sustainable growth together with Gyeonggi Province, Korea’s emerging semiconductor powerhouse.

Stay tuned to see how BASF and Gyeonggi Province will shape the future of the semiconductor industry! 😊

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