German-based tech company Merck on Thursday launched a new research and development (R and D) center for a key semiconductor material for artificial intelligence (AI) chips in South Korea in a bid to respond quickly to customer needs here. The Korea Spin-on-Dielectric (SOD) Application Center, located in Anseong, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, is the second of its kind in Asia and part of Merck's global R and D network and capabilities, according to the company. The facility will accelerate the development of SOD materials, which are used in semiconductor manufacturing to create insulating layers on wafers. This new center aims to support the growing demand for advanced memory and logic chips, driven by the expanding role of AI in the semiconductor market. "The breakthroughs that will come from this lab will help shape the future of semiconductor technology, allowing us to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the digital world," Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck Electronics, said. Merck said the center will also be integrated into the ecosystem of Merck's broader portfolio of semiconductor-related materials, in close collaboration with South Korean tech giants, such as Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. Merck has committed to investing 600 million euros (US$652.4 million) in South Korea by 2025 and has already spent more than half of that amount. Source: Yonhap News Agency