SK Square has invested 20 billion won (US$14.7 million) in five technology companies across the United States and Japan, signaling an aggressive push into AI semiconductor technologies and infrastructure as part of a planned 100 billion won investment strategy.
The investment arm, which was spun off from SK Telecom in 2021 to accelerate growth through investments in semiconductors and future technologies, has partnered with SK Hynix, Shinhan Financial Group, and LIG Nex1 for the initiative.
The capital has been deployed to US-based d-Matrix and TetraMem, along with Japan’s AIOCORE, LINK-US, and Kyulux. TetraMem, which specializes in analog in-memory computing, has already deepened its relationship with SK Hynix through a recently announced research partnership aimed at advancing memory-centric computing paradigms for AI applications.
D-Matrix, backed by Microsoft and Singapore’s Temasek, is developing AI inference chips for data centers, while TetraMem leverages resistive random access memory technology for AI applications. AIOCORE, one of the Japanese investments, produces optical communication modules that replace traditional semiconductor copper wiring with photonic connections. LINK-US focuses on ultrasonic bonding equipment, while Kyulux develops next-generation OLED materials.
The investments align with SK Group’s broader AI ambitions. SK Telecom, SK Square’s former parent, recently announced its “AI Pyramid Strategy” focusing on three key areas including AI infrastructure comprising data centers, semiconductors, and language models.
SK Hynix, a critical partner in SK Square’s investment strategy, received US$458 million in CHIPS Act funding last December to build memory packaging facilities for AI products in Indiana. The increased collaboration between SK Square and SK Hynix suggests a coordinated approach to capturing growth opportunities in the AI semiconductor market.
SK Square indicated that the five companies are expected to pursue initial public offerings within several years, with some already preparing for their next investment rounds.
