Skip to content

Building
a sustainable

semiconductor ecosystem
through participation
in IMEC's SSTS

* SSTS : Sustainable Semiconductor
Technologies and Systems

Samsung's collaboration with IMEC is aimed

to minimize environmental impact throughout Samsung's semiconductor supply chain.

IMEC's SSTS for deriving
sustainable solutions
across
the entire semiconductor
supply chain

As the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution continues, the demand for semiconductor technology is constantly increasing due to developments such as the widespread use of AI, the expansion of data centers, and the acceleration of digital transformation (DX). As the reliance on semiconductor devices grows, the impact of semiconductor manufacturing processes on the environment has become a critical issue. In response to this, Samsung Electronics Semiconductor is making efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water usage, and expand resource circulation. In addition to to minimize environmental impact during semiconductor production, Samsung has also joined the SSTS program of IMEC to minimize environmental impact from the design stage.

IMEC is the largest non-profit semiconductor research institute in Europe, conducting research on various new technologies that might pose a significant risk if pursued solely by private companies. Currently, more than 4,500 researchers from 95 countries are working together to perform multinational research that transcends national borders. IMEC is not a semiconductor research institute for a single company, but rather a research institute for the entire semiconductor industry.

IMEC's SSTS (Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems) program aims to derive sustainable solutions across the entire value chain of the semiconductor industry. The program invites partner companies to join in on the effort. IMEC plans to create a simulation program that calculates carbon emissions based on feedback from its partner companies, and to develop technologies and systems aimed at reducing environmental impact.

To minimize environmental impact,
cooperation is necessary throughout
the entire semiconductor supply chain

The attraction of the SSTS program is that it involves companies across the entire semiconductor supply chain, including not only semiconductor manufacturers but also semiconductor equipment suppliers (such as ASML and TEL), and IT companies (such as Apple, AWS, and Microsoft) who participate in the research for building a sustainable ecosystem within the semiconductor industry. Samsung Electronics aims to take the lead in sustainable technology development through collaboration with IMEC and other companies participating in the SSTS program.

To minimize the environmental impact

of next-generation semiconductors

Earlier this year, Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division established its own LCA process for measuring carbon emissions during the entire lifecycle of its products, from production to disposal. Instead of stopping there, however, we have taken another step forward by participating in IMEC's SSTS program.

We aim to develop simulations that can consider environmental impacts from the product design stage, in order to derive sustainable solutions throughout our semiconductor supply chain. Through this solution, we hope to replace environmentally impactful processes and materials with sustainable technology development for next-generation semiconductors.

Samsung Electronics' objective
is establishing a leading sustainable

semiconductor ecosystem
through the development of

"Technology that makes technology
sustainable."

Explore more about Sustainability

All