Samsung Electronics is ramping up its semiconductor foundry expansion in Taylor, Texas, aiming for full operation by 2026. The move has sparked the rapid formation of a South Korean semiconductor cluster in the area, with partners increasing their local investments and intensifying recruitment.
According to South Korean media outlets, including Maeil Business Newspaper and ChosunBiz, Samsung's key materials, components, and equipment collaborators—including Dongjin Semichem, SoulBrain, FST, and Hanyang ENG—are establishing production facilities in Taylor at an accelerated pace while actively hiring skilled workers.
Partners build new industrial base
Additionally, iMarket Korea's wholly owned subsidiary, iMarket America (IMA), plans to break ground on the Gradiant Technology Park industrial complex in mid-November 2025.
Spanning 260,000 ping (859,504.132 square meters), the park will be developed in three phases, set for completion in 2027, 2029, and 2031, respectively. The groundbreaking ceremony is expected to draw more than 100 prominent figures from both South Korea and Texas.
Strategic ecosystem shift
Industry analysts note that this large-scale relocation of Samsung's partners to the US represents more than just a manufacturing transfer; it signals a strategic shift toward a localized semiconductor ecosystem. Samsung and its partners intend to jointly build a comprehensive value chain encompassing materials, components, equipment, and engineering within the US.
Back in late 2021, Samsung announced a US$17 billion investment plan designating Taylor as a next-generation wafer fab hub. By 2030, Samsung aims to invest over US$37 billion across its American semiconductor production bases.
Following this, many of Samsung's partners have established factories or headquarters for semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment in the US, gradually extending South Korea's semiconductor supply chain overseas.
US incentives drive localization
The US government's CHIPS and Science Act encourages localization of the entire semiconductor ecosystem—from raw materials to equipment—in line with national policy goals. Samsung's development of a semiconductor industry cluster in Taylor aligns closely with these incentives and reflects a broader trend toward onshoring critical supply chains.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
