Glass Substrates with Enhanced Power Efficiency Become a Game Changer for AI Semiconductors

Samsung Electro-Mechanics moves to dominate the glass substrate market.

The competition in semiconductor performance is shifting beyond chips to substrates, due to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). As data-processing volumes surge, the role of substrates connecting chips has become increasingly critical. Limitations of conventional plastic-based substrates are becoming more evident, positioning glass substrates as an alternative for high-performance applications.
AI semiconductors, in particular, have a structure tightly linking graphic processing units (GPUs) and high bandwidth memory (HBM).

Plastic (organic) substrates that have been widely used so far are increasingly facing structural limitations due to the large-scale, high-performance trends of AI semiconductors. They are more vulnerable to heat, prone to warping at high temperatures, and require additional layers to enhance performance.
Amidst such expectations and limitations, competition in glass substrates is intensifying. SKC’s subsidiary Absolics is considered closest to commercialization, producing prototypes at its Georgia facility in the USA and conducting tests with global clients. LG Innotek is also preparing for mass-production in 2027-2028, based on its pilot production system.

Global companies are joining the race. Intel is seeking to lead the way in technical conversion by significantly expanding substrate size, while China’s BOE is building supply chains through pilot production lines. Japan’s Ibiden is also advancing development, leveraging its leading position in the substrate market.
Samsung Electronics’ affiliates are likewise moving to strengthen their capabilities in glass substrates based on each affiliate’s core competitiveness and role. Rather than a single unified effort, each affiliate is developing technologies that collectively enhance the group’s packaging competitiveness. Samsung Electro-Mechanics is responsible for developing and mass-producing glass substrates. The company is producing prototypes based on a pilot line in its Sejong Plant, and working with Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Group to secure a supply chain for glass core materials. The company aims to enter mass production after 2027.
 
 
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