SK hynix to Establish AI R&D Center in the United States
SK hynix has unveiled its technology strategy as it moves to establish an AI research and development center in the United States. At the '2026 Global Forum' held in Santa Clara, California, SK hynix announced its direction for memory semiconductor (data-storing chip) technologies designed for the AI era. The event was attended by CEO Kwak Noh-jung and President Ahn Hyun, head of development, along with other key executives, researchers from leading US universities, and active experts in the global AI and semiconductor fields. "As the AI industry continues to grow, demand for AI memory will remain persistently high," Kwak said, adding that the company will leverage its new production bases and research foundations to maintain its technological edge. SK hynix is pushing to establish a global AI research and development (R&D) center in the United States, following its Yongin semiconductor cluster and Indiana fab.
Beyond Individual Performance to the Entire System — 'At the Technology Inflection Point, Opening the Next Chapter of Memory' — A panel discussion on this theme featured Vice President Kim Hyung-soo of DRAM design, Vice President Lee Jae-won of AI interface, Vice President Lee Kang-wook of package (PKG) development, and Vice President Kim Ho-sik of memory system research. The panelists noted that as the pace of AI technology development accelerates, improving a single technology alone is no longer sufficient. They agreed that it is critical to be able to organically connect different technologies to create system-level solutions, as well as to understand and collaborate across other technologies while drawing on expertise in one's own field.
The event featured a total of eight roundtable sessions divided into four areas: design, process and devices, advanced packaging, and AI systems. Industry experts discussed key issues and development directions for AI memory technology, while academic researchers exchanged views with executives on their respective semiconductor research topics.
The venue included exhibition spaces showcasing flagship products such as HBM as well as next-generation memory solutions, along with a poster display of research papers published by SK hynix scholarship recipients in major global journals and conferences.
