Seoul National University of Science and Technology (Seoul Tech; President Kim Dong-hwan) has been selected as the lead university for the semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (SME) sector in the “Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS)” project, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

This initiative involves Chungcheongnam-do as a regional government partner and consortium universities including Korea University of Technology and Education, Korea University of Engineering, Hannam University, and Daelim University. The project spans two years from 2025 to 2026, with an annual budget of KRW 10.2 billion won, reaching a total of KRW 20.4 billion.

COSS’s aim is to cultivate advanced industry-demanded talent by enabling consortium universities to share human and material resources across regional and institutional boundaries, providing cutting-edge education accessible to students of all majors. Through this project, Seoul Tech plans to systematically nurture core semiconductor experts who will drive innovation and transformation within the SME sector.

▲ Professor Kim Sung-dong, Department of Manufacturing Systems and Design Engineering

Notably, three departments at Seoul Tech—Manufacturing Systems and Design Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Semiconductor Engineering—will collaboratively focus on training key personnel in semiconductor materials, equipment, and packaging. Professor Kim Sung-dong from the Department of Manufacturing Systems and Design Engineering will serve as the overall project director.

Since establishing Seoul Techno Park in 2008, Seoul Tech has built a 2,650 square-meter semiconductor-dedicated FAB (semiconductor process training facility) on campus to actively promote industry-academia collaboration and hands-on education. Furthermore, through its Semiconductor Convergence Interdisciplinary Major and Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering department, the university continues to advance the cultivation of specialized talent to lead the semiconductor industry.

President Kim Dong-hwan remarked, “This project selection marks an opportunity for Seoul Tech to nurture semiconductor fusion talents ready for immediate industrial application, contributing to strengthening South Korea’s global competitiveness in the semiconductor sector.”