• SK hynix attended SEDEX 2023 as a leader in AI memory
• Commemorating its 40^th anniversary, SK hynix showcased its history and tenacity
• Company’s display of next-gen AI solutions such as HBM3E and AiMX attracted the crowds

SK hynix participated in Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX) 2023 at Seoul’s COEX from October 25–27 to showcase its advanced memory products and technologies which are leading the AI era.

Hosted by the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), SEDEX is the country’s largest semiconductor exhibition which brings together all areas of the industry including companies that produce semiconductor materials, components, and equipment. For this 25^th SEDEX, a record 320 companies, organizations, and schools participated under the theme of “AI, Semiconductor Innovation, and the Power to Connect the Future”.

Figure 1. Visitors at SK hynix’s booth discovering the company’s technologies and products

To commemorate its 40^th anniversary, SK hynix presented its products under the theme “After 40 Years of Tenacious Commitment, Becoming the Global No.1 AI Memory Solution Provider.” The booth was separated into six zones that showcased its next-generation memory solutions for AI, server products, brand SSDs, SAPEON¹ AI chip, CMOS image sensors (CIS)², and sustainable social value (SV) initiatives, respectively. In addition, a digital wall featuring a timeline of the company’s past highlighted significant moments from its 40-year history.

¹SAPEON: An AI startup jointly founded by SK hynix, SK Telecom, and SK Square. The company has developed the SAPEON AI processor for data centers which offers rapid deep learning computation speed and low-power consumption.

²CMOS Image Sensor (CIS): A sensor that converts the color and intensity of light into electrical signals and passes them on to a processing unit. Serves as the “eyes” of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, etc.

Figure 2. SK hynix’s President and CEO Kwak Noh-Jung (front, center) visits the company’s booth during SEDEX 2023

SK hynix President and CEO Kwak Noh-Jung, who is also the president of KSIA, took a tour of 18 exhibition spaces including SK hynix’s booth, and showed his support for the development of the country’s semiconductor industry.

SK hynix’s newsroom also visited the company’s booth to take a closer look at the advanced memory products and AI solution on display, as well as its SV creation activities.

SK hynix’s Stellar Moments Presented on Its History Wall

Amidst SK hynix’s six zones that displayed its products, technologies, and sustainability management, the center of the booth featured a digital history wall. Commemorating the company’s 40^th anniversary, the wall highlighted key moments from the company’s establishment in 1983 to today.

Those key milestones include: the production of South Korea’s first 16K SRAM in 1984; the launch of the Blue Chip project in 2001 that modernized manufacturing processes with minimal expenditure; the launch of the rebranded SK hynix in 2012; record operating profits in 2018; and the start of construction on the Yongin semiconductor cluster in 2022.

Figure 3. The “40th Anniversary Wall” zone showcasing SK hynix’s major achievements

The wall also provided a glimpse into SK hynix’s vision of the Icheon-Cheongju-Yongin fab triangle. With the Yongin cluster planned to become operational in 2027, the company plans to optimize its production, increase its business efficiency, and transform South Korea into a global semiconductor mecca.

Showcasing Globally Leading AI Memory Technologies

With the emergence of generative AI services such as ChatGPT, semiconductor memory companies are rushing to develop AI technologies and services to meet the unprecedented demand for AI solutions. As such, SK hynix introduced two AI memory products based on HBM³ and AiM⁴ in the “Global No.1 AI Memory” zone.

³High Bandwidth Memory (HBM): A high-value, high-performance product that possesses much higher data processing speeds compared to existing DRAMs by vertically connecting multiple DRAMs with through-silicon via (TSV).

⁴Accelerator in Memory (AiM): SK hynix’s PIM semiconductor product name, which includes GDDR6-AiM.

HBM3E boasts industry-leading data processing speeds of 1.15 terabytes (TB) per second and is optimized to process large amounts of data for applications such as AI computing. At the booth, a video showing its improvements over its predecessor was played alongside a product sample.

AiMX accelerates AI processing by adding computational capabilities to memory products. Consequently, it has the ability to run large-scale language models at high speed and low power. Visitors to the booth were able to see prototypes of both the PIM⁵-based GDDR6-AiM and the AiMX cards which incorporate GDDR6-AiM.

⁵Processing-In-Memory (PIM): A next-generation technology that adds computational capabilities to semiconductor memories to solve the problem of data movement congestion in AI and big data processing.

Figure 4. Visitors viewing various SK hynix products such as HBM3E and AiMX at the “Global No.1 AI Memory” zone

In the “Server Solution” zone, the company showcased DDR5 for servers and eSSD products. Optimized for improving AI performance, the products meet the server industry’s need for low-power, high-performance DRAMs, as well as the IT industry’s requirements for mass storage.

Other products such as the DDR5 chip that supports AI computing in high-performance servers were also on display. Crowd favorites included DDR5 RDIMM which features the 5th generation of the 10nm process technology and boasts speeds of more than 6,400 megabits per second (Mbps), and MCR DIMM which reaches speeds of more than 8 gigabits per second (Gbps).

Three types of eSSD were also displayed: the PCle (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) Gen5-based PS1010 E3.S, PS1010 U.2 15mm, and PE9110 E1.S. These storage products attracted attention for their enhanced speed and durability that are optimal for big data and machine learning.

Figure 5. Visitors looking at DDR5, MCR DIMM, and eSSD products at the “Server Solution” zone

Exotic Beetle X31 Display and SV Activities Draw the Crowds

Beetle X31, a consumer SSD in the shape of an Egyptian scarab beetle, received positive reviews for its distinct design and its ability to maintain high performance levels while effectively dissipating heat. This “Brand SSD” zone was distinguishable from other exhibition spaces as it featured Egyptian hieroglyphics and art to highlight the exotic design of Beetle X31.

Figure 6. The Beetle X31 on display against an ancient Egyptian backdrop

In the “SAPEON” zone, samples of the SAPEON X220 AI chip were on display along with 5011Q, a CIS product that captures more light with large 1.0 micrometer (μm)-sized pixels. Unlike the conventional method of achieving high resolution by reducing the pixel size, 5011Q captures more light in large pixels to improve the image quality. At SEDEX 2023, SK hynix unveiled a mass-produced version of 5011Q for the first time.

Figure 7. Visitors viewing the latest semiconductor products including the SAPEON X220 AI chip and 5011Q CIS

In the “Social Value” zone, SK hynix presented its ESG activities and achievements that included its ongoing Eco Alliance⁶ operations, energy-efficient manufacturing, and water management practices. The zone also highlighted programs that contributed to SV creation and talent development. These included Hy-Five, which connects partnering companies with young jobseekers, and Hy-Po, which provides semiconductor internships to university students.

⁶Eco Alliance: An environmental union of semiconductor companies led by SK hynix and comprising leading semiconductor technology partner and member companies.

Figure 8. Visitors learning about SK hynix’s various ESG management activities at the “Social Value” zone

Meanwhile, SK hynix also organized fun activities for visitors. A quiz about the company and a semiconductor-themed pinball machine attracted crowds to the booth.

Figure 9. Visitors enjoying various events and games at SK hynix’s booth

Continuing a History of Innovation to Lead the AI Era

At SEDEX 2023, SK hynix showcased its 40-year history featuring a string of technological breakthroughs alongside its latest memory solutions. Having been a pioneer of the memory industry for decades, the company will continue this tradition of innovation as it looks set to lead the AI era for years to come.

The post Global No.1 AI Memory Solution Provider SK hynix Showcases Its 40-Year History & Road Ahead at SEDEX 2023 first appeared on SK hynix Newsroom.

▲ SK hynix President and CEO Kwak Noh-Jung speaks with employees on the company’s 40th anniversary (From left, Son Aeri, Kwak, Lim Seohyun, and Ma Kyoungsoo)

To commemorate SK hynix’s 40th anniversary on October 10, SK hynix President and CEO Kwak Noh-Jung laid out the company’s vision. “We will transform semiconductor memory, which has generally been considered as a commodity product¹, into customized specialty solutions through continued innovations,” he said. During a special interview, Kwak claimed that “only companies that satisfy customers by breaking away from old methods centered on commodity products will survive.”

The AI era has already brought about swift increases in the capabilities of AI systems and a diversification in the memory specifications required by major tech companies. In this rapidly changing environment, SK hynix is leading the AI memory sector with its innovations, including the world’s first mass production of HBM3² and development of the world’s best-performing HBM3E.

¹Commodity product: In the semiconductor field, commodity products are simple mass-produced chips used for performing repetitive processing routines.

²High Bandwidth Memory (HBM): A high-value, high-performance memory that vertically interconnects multiple DRAM chips, enabling a dramatic increase in data processing speed in comparison to earlier DRAM products. HBM3E is the extended version of the HBM3 and the 5^th generation of its kind.

▲ Kwak talks about the company’s vision with employees

Traditionally, the memory industry has used a low-mix high-volume manufacturing³ system where both DRAM and NAND solutions were developed and quickly produced in large quantities. Although customized technology has been developed in some areas as the memory sector has advanced over recent years, the industry is still largely centered on commodity products.

³Low-Mix High-Volume (LMHV) manufacturing: A production model that enables businesses to produce large volumes of a small number of products.

However, as the pace of technological advancement in AI accelerates with the emergence of generative AI services such as ChatGPT, the industry consensus is that the types of AI services and related training will differ for each company. This will result in distinct memory specifications for companies across the world.

Following the mass production of HBM3E in 2024, Kwak claims that memory specifications will need to be configured in close collaboration with customers in the AI business from the earliest stages. This will entail major industry-wide changes in design and production methods, as well as marketing.

“Going forward, we need to first understand the specialty of each of our customers’ work and then customize the memory to meet their needs,” he said. “That represents a big growth opportunity for us.”

▲ Kwak talks about the opportunities the future holds for SK hynix

For the talk, Kwak was joined by three SK hynix employees who represented different generations. Ma Kyoungsoo, a senior engineer of the Manufacturing and Technology department who has been with the company for more than 30 years and was honored as SK hynix’s first Master⁴ in 2023; Technical Leader Son Aeri of the DRAM Development department who was born in October 1983 when the company was founded; and Technical Leader Lim Seohyun of the NAND Development department who joined the company in 2023, sat down with Kwak to talk about SK hynix’s past, present, and future.

⁴Master: An in-house guru at SK hynix who takes on the role of an advisor, passing on knowledge of the semiconductor manufacturing site to juniors and suggesting solutions to various problems.

▲ Kwak talks to employees about the company’s facilities in Icheon, Cheongju and Yongin

When asked about the company’s future, Kwak first spoke of the potential of facilities in Icheon, Cheongju, and Yongin. Once the first fab in SK hynix’s Yongin cluster becomes operational in 2027, it will join the company’s existing Icheon and Cheongju sites to form a triangle on the map and create an optimized production system which will increase business efficiency.

“When the triangle is completed, SK hynix will become a global semiconductor mecca spread across the three cities,” Kwak said.

Regarding the future of semiconductors, Kwak predicts that there will be a technological convergence between memory, CPUs, and system semiconductors as their boundaries become blurred, and that the applications of memory will broaden. “As products such as PIM⁵, which puts computational functions in the memory itself, become more sophisticated, they are likely to be applied to quantum computing⁶ technology,” he said. “Our ability to lead this shift will be a decisive factor in determining our future.”

Kwak also emphasized that “in the future, we need to pay attention to our surroundings, not just technology or products, and strive to make the world a better place. We need to continue to work toward our environmental goals, such as achieving net zero and RE100⁷, while also thinking about how we can contribute to society and improve our governance system,” Kwak said, adding that he plans to strengthen the company’s ESG management.

⁵Processing-In-Memory (PIM): A next-generation technology that adds computational capabilities to semiconductor memories to solve the problem of data movement congestion in AI and big data processing.

⁶Quantum computing: A computational method that utilizes quantum mechanical phenomena such as entanglement and superposition to solve complex problems faster than traditional computers.

⁷Renewable Electricity 100 (RE100): A global initiative for businesses to procure 100% of electricity via renewable electricity.

▲ Ma talks about how the company has changed over the past 40 years

Kwak also spoke with staff about the company’s evolution over its 40-year history. Ma, who has worked at SK hynix since the early 1990s, cites horizontal corporate culture following the elimination of the hierarchical system as the biggest change. “It has created a work environment with strong communication and flowing ideas,” he said.

“Safety awareness has also increased as much as technical skills. The safety rules have become as detailed as the actual work we do, which has created an environment where everyone can work with peace of mind,” Ma added.

▲ Lim talks about Gen Z’s positive impression of SK hynix

“The company guarantees a wide range of autonomy to its employees, including a flexible work system, making it a place where Gen Z wants to work,” said Lim, who joined the company in 2023.

Kwak responded by praising staff for their ability to work autonomously and use their initiative in the face of adversity. Recalling the early 2000s, he said: “When the company experienced challenges, employees put in great effort and approached their work with a sense of ownership. Looking back, this sense of ownership is in line with our VWBE⁸ philosophy.”

⁸Voluntarily and Willing Brain Engagement (VWBE): One of the employee values emphasized by SK Management System, or SKMS.

▲Son reflects on turning 40 as SK hynix celebrates its 40^th anniversary

“I turn 40 in the same month the company celebrates its 40^th anniversary,” said Son. “When I was younger, I thought that 40 was the age of a mature adult, but now I realize that it’s the age of a young person who needs to develop and grow constantly, both myself and the company. I think we’ve entered the new starting point for further development.”

Kwak also acknowledged the need for the company to continue to grow and progress. “Recent reports show that the average lifespan of a global company is only 15 years, and it’s going to get shorter,” he said. “We can be proud of our 40-year history, but we also have more work to do.”

▲ Kwak thanks the employees for all their hard work

Wrapping up the talk, Kwak thanked all of SK hynix’s employees for making the company’s 40-year history possible. “Our recent industry-leading technologies, including HBM3E, DDR5, LPDDR5, and 321-Layer NAND, are the result of the hard work of our employees, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them,” he said.

“The current generation is very rational in the way they work, and they are ready to work at 150% of their capabilities, or even more,” he said of the junior members who are becoming the company’s core workers, adding that he is excited about the next 40 years.

Kwak concluded by saying that “we have all excelled as one team, one company, and our goal is to become a global market leader.”

The post [SK hynix’s 40th Anniversary] CEO Kwak Noh-Jung Says Company to Become Specialty Semiconductor Memory Provider for the AI Era first appeared on SK hynix Newsroom.