OCTOBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chip maker, has announced plans to invest approximate-ly $3.87 billion in building an advanced packaging plant and research and development (R&D) facility for AI products in the U.S. state of Indiana.The new plant will feature an advanced chip pro-duction line aimed at mass-producing next-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. These chips are currently utilized in graphic processing units (GPUs) that are instrumental in training artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including those used by Nvidia, a major custom-er of SK Hynix.Mass production at the new facility, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, is slated to commence in the second half of 2028. Alongside chip production, the facility will also host a packaging R&D line to further advance pack-aging technologies.According to SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung, the new facility will bolster the resilience of the supply chain for AI chips in the U.S. The decision to establish the fa-cility was influenced by factors such as the availability of engineering talent from Purdue University, the existing infrastructure for chip manufacturing, and support from state and local governments.This investment aligns with SK Hynix's broader com-mitment to the semiconductor industry. In 2022, the com-pany pledged to invest $15 billion in various initiatives, including R&D programs, materials development, and the establishment of an advanced packaging and testing facility in the U.S. On Wednesday, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng unveiled Singapore's ambition to cultivate a cadre of approximately 100 nuclear energy specialists over the medium to long term. However, he emphasized that the nation has yet to reach a decision on the implementation of nuclear energy and, therefore, cannot commit to a specific timeline regarding this matter.Dr. Tan addressed supplementary inquiries from Member of Parliament Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied), who sought clarification on the current number of scientists involved in the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, as well as the annual allocation of scholarships aimed at nurturing a pool of nuclear scientists and expertise. Additionally, Giam inquired about the government's efforts to establish regulatory policies necessary for overseeing potential nuclear energy initiatives, including nuclear fission and fusion.In response, Dr. Tan underscored the government's endorsement of initiatives to train scientists and specialists through educational programs both domestically and abroad. Over the past decade, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, located at the National University of Singapore (NUS), has awarded 30 scholarships for postgraduate studies in fields related to nuclear science and engineering. Furthermore, it has cultivated a cohort of approximately 40 researchers specializing in radiobiology, radiochemistry, and nuclear safety."We aim to build up a pool of about 100 experts in the medium to long run," Dr. Tan affirmed. Regarding nuclear fusion, the minister acknowledged the significant interest in this area, noting, "To date, on a sustainable basis, the net energy input needed to create that nuclear fusion reaction far exceeds the output of the energy that we can harness." NEWSROOMSK HYNIX TO ALLOT $3.87B TO SETUP AN ADVANCED PACKAGING PLANTSINGAPORE ASSEMBLING EXPERTS FOR IMPLEMENTING NUCLEAR ENERGY
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