Last year, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) was selected through the public competition for the Semiconductor Joint Research Center, a major national R&D project worth 60.2 billion won, and has since emerged as a hub for next‑generation semiconductor research. JBNU is extending its achievements in building research infrastructure into the educational field to cultivate practical semiconductor talent.

The Semiconductor Joint Research Center Establishment Task Force announced on the 9th that it will introduce two industry‑linked courses this year and begin full‑scale, demand‑driven training tailored to the semiconductor industry. This initiative aims to connect research, education, and industry as a single axis by proactively integrating large‑scale research infrastructure into the educational system.

The newly established courses are “Next‑Generation Semiconductor Processes” and “Semiconductor Chemical Materials,” and both will be operated centered on the Semiconductor Joint Research Center. Notably, the courses will include a newly appointed faculty member who previously served as an executive at SK Hynix and executives from the regional semiconductor chemical materials company 동우화인캠, directly reflecting industry demand and technological trends in the curriculum.

Beyond simple theoretical instruction, the program aims to produce industry‑friendly talent who can be deployed immediately to company workplaces after graduation by providing customized education linked with semiconductor companies.

In particular, by linking with the regional industrial structure that has strengths in semiconductor materials, chemicals, and sensors, the program plans to enable students to naturally understand local companies and the industrial ecosystem and connect that understanding to their career paths.

The Semiconductor Joint Research Center Establishment Task Force stated, “The establishment of these industry‑linked courses is expected to form the foundation for fostering practical personnel who can be immediately deployed in R&D and industry,” and added, “We will strengthen ties with companies so that JBNU can become a Jeonbuk‑style semiconductor platform that combines regional industrial strengths and university capabilities and serve as a hub for cultivating outstanding semiconductor talent.”

Meanwhile, since its selection in last year’s call for the Semiconductor Joint Research Center, JBNU launched the Semiconductor Joint Research Center Establishment Task Force and has built a cooperative framework with local governments including Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province and Jeonju City, regional universities and research institutes, and major in‑province semiconductor companies such as 동우화인켐·OCI·한솔케미칼·KCC·광전자·오디텍·P&L Semi.

Currently, JBNU is constructing the Semiconductor Joint Research Center on a site near the Semiconductor Material Properties Research Center (SPRC), with a total area of 3,800 m². The institute will be an advanced integrated research infrastructure with a cleanroom of approximately 400 pyeong and experimental and educational spaces, and is scheduled for completion in 2027. Beyond serving as a mere research facility, it is expected to become a core hub for demonstration testbeds and professional personnel development.