Government pushes to develop 8 types of AI chips and 2 types of design assets by 2030

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy unveiled a roadmap on the 12th for its “K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development Project,” targeting eight domestically developed on-device AI chips and two semiconductor design assets (IP) by 2030. The program runs from 2026 to 2030 with a total budget of 800.23 billion won, including 511.11 billion won in government funding, and covers not only chips but also modules and driving software for product integration. The chips span applications including autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, robots and defense, with testing planned in real-world environments. The plan matters because it commits large-scale public funding to reducing reliance on foreign AI silicon across strategic industries. What to watch next is whether the 2026 launch stays on schedule and whether the eight chips reach commercial deployment in end products by 2030.