The University of Seoul has been leading youth entrepreneurship and regional innovation since 2022, under the vision of 'Most Seoul-like Influence, Most Global Value,' starting with the 'Seoul Impact' initiative. The university particularly supports startups in AI-based urban innovation and social impact sectors, creating a sustainable startup ecosystem where technology and social value harmonize. It was selected as an excellent case in the regional revitalization field of the Seoul Campus Town project and received an A+ grade in the 2024 Seoul Campus Town performance evaluation. IT Donga introduces the growth stories and innovative achievements of AI startups nurtured by the University of Seoul.

As the competition in semiconductor microprocessing intensifies, the silicon semiconductor era has reached a turning point. The 'scaling down' technology competition, which reduces the line width used in silicon semiconductors to the atomic level, has hit the wall of rising costs and physical limits. Consequently, silicon semiconductor material companies are searching for next-generation materials to gain an advantageous position in this competition. Among them, 'Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMD)' is emerging as an alternative.

Despite its very thin thickness, TMD has a bandgap (energy movement gap), making it a next-generation material useful for existing silicon semiconductor production. This has led semiconductor companies and research institutions, such as TSMC and Intel, to engage in TMD technology research and development.



In this competition, the Korean startup 2D Epi has also thrown its hat into the ring. Their strength lies in the Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) technology, which deposits TMD materials on semiconductor wafers by applying heat and pressure to organometallic compounds. Furthermore, 2D Epi plans to expand its business to a foundry that provides production and process knowledge for next-generation semiconductor materials. What is the future of semiconductor materials envisioned by 2D Epi? An interview with CEO Kim Tae-wan provides insights.

Bringing Silicon Valley's 'Lab Startup' Model to Korea

"Many big tech companies in Silicon Valley, such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Nvidia, were founded based on technologies developed in university laboratories. Observing this, I decided to commercialize the technology developed during my tenure as a professor. Nurturing excellent students is an important activity that contributes to society. However, I also believe that directly starting a business with good technology to contribute to the Korean economy and create positive ripple effects is very important."

CEO Kim Tae-wan established 2D Epi with the goal of overcoming the limitations of semiconductor materials and leading the next-generation 2D semiconductor material market. This is due to the conviction that the semiconductor material technology developed will not just remain in research but will contribute to securing original materials for the semiconductor industry and creating high added value.

2D Epi focuses on MOCVD technology, which involves depositing TMD materials on wafers by applying heat and pressure to organometallic compounds. In this process, organometallic compounds such as trimethylindium and trimethylaluminum are used as precursors (substances before chemical reactions). 2D Epi differentiates itself with technology that deposits TMD materials at the atomic layer level thinly and uniformly, while also securing yield and process stability.



The ability to directly design and manufacture MOCVD equipment is also a competitive edge for 2D Epi. In MOCVD, optimizing growth conditions such as temperature, pressure, and partial pressure is crucial. CEO Kim Tae-wan, based on his research experience in the MOCVD field, has been responsible for designing and manufacturing such equipment. This naturally led to the establishment of a foundry service model. They plan to offer customized services, such as adjusting the number of atomic layers or stacking different 2D TMD materials in a sandwich form, according to customer requirements.

CEO Kim Tae-wan stated, "2D TMD materials are difficult to handle as their process conditions are completely different from existing silicon. 2D Epi's foundry service goes through the process of verifying that the characteristics are manifested by creating devices according to the environment required by the customer. This business is possible because we have accumulated practical process know-how and extensive error data with 2D TMD materials."

Overcoming the Challenges of Mass Production with Quality and Trust

2D Epi, which is growing with the goal of becoming a next-generation semiconductor materials and components company, faces the challenge of mass production. Expanding the production scale of 2D TMD materials is essential for the company's sustainable growth. This requires the establishment of a mass production system and cost competitiveness. The deposition and synthesis processes of 2D TMD materials are more complex and costly than those of general semiconductor materials. CEO Kim Tae-wan said, "Focusing solely on technology development makes growth difficult. Verification and trust from customers, as well as process stabilization, are needed."

CEO Kim Tae-wan also mentioned the high barriers to entry into the semiconductor supply chain. "Entering the existing supply chain requires certification and verification procedures, which take a long time. Domestic and international competition is fierce, and it is difficult to guarantee success with technology alone in a market already dominated by global material companies."

2D Epi has devised a plan to overcome these challenges. They plan to optimize the deposition and synthesis processes of 2D TMD materials to reduce costs and improve quality. They will strive to verify material application through pilot projects with domestic semiconductor manufacturers and equipment companies, leading to supply contract agreements. They are also working on transitioning production scale from small to medium or larger scale through facility investment, workforce reinforcement, and securing production lines.

They are also seeking export channels. They plan to accelerate technology commercialization by strengthening cooperation with companies, universities, and research institutions in the materials and components field and participating in government support programs. They aim to secure customer trust through technical presentations at conferences, obtaining certifications, and strengthening quality assurance systems. CEO Kim Tae-wan explained that the company will develop from a technology-development-centered company to one encompassing business, marketing, and production.

Aiming to Grow as a Materials and Components Company Leading the Korean Semiconductor Market

2D Epi has been recognized for its capabilities by participating in projects from government agencies such as the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. They have also secured intellectual property (IP) based on technologies such as a confocal-based nonlinear optical system and a P-channel MOSFET (pFET) device with tellurium (Te) doped p-type molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film.

The steady growth of 2D Epi has been significantly supported by the University of Seoul's Campus Town program. In addition to providing space and infrastructure for technology research and product development, it offered mentoring and networking activities. It also contributed to the business advancement of 2D material technology through connections with research institutions, alumni, and corporate networks. CEO Kim Tae-wan said, "Thanks to the support from the University of Seoul, 2D Epi has achieved technology-based growth. We want to grow into a company that is properly evaluated for its technological value through continuous research and development."



"Our goal is to grow as a materials and components company leading technology in the semiconductor powerhouse of Korea. Global companies like IMEC, TSMC, and Intel are investing in the development of 2D TMD materials as next-generation semiconductor materials. I believe that if 2D Epi secures original technology for next-generation semiconductor materials, it will enhance the competitiveness of the Korean semiconductor industry."

2D Epi embodies the meaning of epitaxy, a technology that grows materials by matching the crystal structure with 2D materials. As a company specializing in 2D materials, CEO Kim Tae-wan explains that they aim to develop next-generation materials that overcome the limitations of silicon semiconductor technology and seize leadership in the global market.

IT Donga Reporter Kang Hyung-seok (redbk@itdonga.com)

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