SK Hynix Co., the world’s second largest memory chipmaker, has made headway in the effort to establish a supply chain on home turf for security and cost-saving in chip production.

According to industry sources on Monday, SK Hynix’s DBL Square has attracted a membership of over 300 firms as of September in just two years since its launch. The company opened the website to provide technological cooperation and share knowledge for co-development to enhance the local chip industry ecosystem.

SK Hynix now is aiming to speed up localizing chip materials, components and equipment by bolstering support for its partner firms in equipment/technology knowhow, joint-development projects and job training programs.

Through DBL Square, SK Hynix offers a high-quality analysis and testing services to its suppliers, helping them reduce cost for evaluating their materials, components and equipment in a memory fab.

It received a total of 13,400 applications for the analysis and testing services on the platform last year, and 12,460 up to August this year.

Partner suppliers also can enjoy various other supportive measures including joint-development projects, a job training program and recruiting assistance. With the benefits, a total of 8,470 from 300 companies have signed up as a member of the platform as of September.

“Anyone from partner suppliers can take 291 online and offline classes spanning from production process to devices and automation, of which 86 on-site programs are offering online courses recently on virus threats,” said a SK Hynix official.

As for recruiting assistance, 44 companies joined the program and hire 95 workers on the permanent payroll last year. This year, the company launches the internship program twice amid virus-driven scarce job openings at home.

On the back of the efforts, SK Hynix recently succeeded in localizing the supply chain for die bonder, key equipment for chip making that had hinged 90 percent on Japanese supplies, with Hanwha Precision Machinery.

The Korean government and companies have been actively seeking to reduce their heavy reliance on Japanese raw material and parts suppliers since the trade dispute between Seoul and Tokyo began in July last year when Japan tightened curbs on shipping of hydrogen fluoride and two other high-tech materials used in producing displays and semiconductors to Korea.

By Chun Gyung-woon, Song Gwang-sup and Lee Ha-yeon

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]