[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] 'Wafer manufacturing' SK Siltron is also subsidized by the US CHIPS and Science Act

SK Siltron, a wafer manufacturer, is also expected to receive subsidies from the US government when investing in the US under the US CHIPS and Science Act.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 23rd that the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a detailed plan to support financial incentives for investment in large-scale material and equipment manufacturing facilities and wafer manufacturing facilities during the CHIPS and Science Act incentive program. The US CHIPS and Science Act, which took effect in August last year, includes 52.7 billion dollars (about 70 trillion won) in financial support for the domestic semiconductor industry and 25% investment tax deductions.

The key point is that the U.S. government will provide subsidies if it invests more than $300 million in material and equipment manufacturing facilities or wafer manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Accordingly, SK Siltron, which manufactures wafers in the United States, is expected to receive subsidies under the Bando Act. SK Siltron has invested hundreds of billions of won in facilities every year since acquiring Dupont's silicon carbide (SiC) wafer division in 2020.

However, the variable is that while the U.S. government specified the standard for investment of $300 million in material and equipment manufacturing facilities, it did not mention the amount of investment related to wafer manufacturing facilities. "Although wafers are key materials for semiconductors, there is room to see them unlike other materials," an official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. "Since the U.S. government has handled general materials, equipment and wafers separately, it is necessary to further examine whether investment in wafers can be subsidized even if it is less than $300 million."

 

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