As the global artificial intelligence (AI) era fully takes hold, the semiconductor industry finds itself in the midst of a true upheaval. In particular, the competition for leadership in the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) market, which has become a core component of the AI era, is more intense than ever. Samsung Electronics (KRX: 005930), a leading South Korean company, is drawing market attention by making a bold move at the center of this fierce battle. Recent market forecasts and large-scale investment plans clearly show Samsung Electronics’ efforts to overturn the AI semiconductor market landscape and secure new growth engines, starting in 2026.
As of July 2026, Samsung Electronics is strengthening its position in the HBM market, boosting the competitiveness of its foundry business, and making massive investments in future new technology fields such as robotics. What kind of future is Samsung Electronics envisioning?
Securing HBM4 Leadership and Aiming for #1 Market Share by 2027
In February 2026, Samsung Electronics successfully mass-produced and shipped HBM4 for the first time in the world, marking a new turning point in the HBM market. This allowed the company to gain an early lead over competitors, breaking the $1 billion mark in HBM4 sales in just four months.
- HBM4 Mass Production Leadership: World’s first HBM4 mass production shipment in February 2026
- Early Market Performance: HBM4 sales exceeded $1 billion in just four months
- Targeting #1 Market Share by 2027: Projected to achieve 39-46% share in the HBM market by 2027
Notably, Samsung Electronics highlights its ‘one-stop capability’ encompassing all processes from semiconductor design to memory integration, foundry, and packaging. The strategy of self-developing HBM4 base dies with a 4-nanometer process to optimize foundry and HBM design is a unique differentiator for Samsung.
Strengthening Foundry Competitiveness and Expanding the AI Semiconductor Ecosystem
Beyond HBM, Samsung Electronics continues its proactive steps in the foundry business. On July 1st, Samsung Electronics held the ‘SAFE Forum 2026’ to unveil its next-generation foundry technology strategy. At this event, Samsung Electronics presented its 2-nanometer process technology and process innovation directions optimized for AI semiconductors, outlining a vision to establish itself as a key hub in the AI semiconductor ecosystem.
At the SAFE Forum, the following technology strategies were particularly emphasized:
- 2-nanometer Process Technology: Development of fine process technology optimized for next-generation AI semiconductors
- DTCO (Design Technology Co-Optimization): Simultaneous optimization of design and process technology to improve performance, yield, and manufacturing costs
- SRAM Technology Competitiveness: Enhancing SRAM technology, a key element for improving AI semiconductor performance
Samsung Electronics is enhancing its foundry business competitiveness by strengthening cooperation with global AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) customers while expanding its role as a platform for the domestic system semiconductor industry.
2,655 Trillion Won Investment, Accelerating New Growth Engines like Robotics
Samsung Electronics is making comprehensive investments to secure leadership in the AI era. In 2026, Samsung announced a total investment of 2,655 trillion won in advanced future industries in South Korea. Of this, 2,030 trillion won will be concentrated on fostering semiconductor clusters in Pyeongtaek, Yongin, and Gwangju, while the remaining 625 trillion won will be allocated to securing new growth engines such as AI semiconductors, robotics, batteries, and IT components/materials.
The robotics business, in particular, is drawing attention as a key future growth engine for Samsung Electronics. Recently, Samsung Electronics established the RX Business Promotion Office directly under CEO Roh Tae-moon, accelerating the commercialization of robotics.
- RX Business Promotion Office Establishment: Formulating robotics business strategies, developing core technologies, and promoting humanoid commercialization
- M&A and Investment: Actively reviewing M&A and startup investments in the robotics sector
- Transition to AI Autonomous Factories: Aiming to convert all domestic and international production facilities into AI autonomous factories by 2030
Thus, Samsung Electronics demonstrates a strong commitment to becoming a leader in the AI era by strengthening its core semiconductor capabilities and making large-scale investments in future technologies. Amidst fierce technological competition, the market anticipates what new history Samsung Electronics will write.