South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics has set an ambitious strategic goal for the coming years. According to current plans from its Samsung Foundry division, the company expects to increase the number of its contract manufacturing clients by approximately fourfold by 2029, compared to the baseline year of 2017 when the semiconductor business was spun off into an independent entity.
Shifting Focus to AI and High-Performance Computing
Currently, the contract manufacturer's client base is already about three times larger than it was at the time of the 2017 spin-off. The company's management intends to drive further growth by radically reorienting its production capacities. While the main focus used to be on mobile processors, advanced solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) are now taking priority. The share of the HPC segment in revenue has already risen from 5% to 28%, and Samsung expects this figure to reach an impressive 66% by 2029.
Contradictory Data
Meanwhile, the South Korean manufacturer's ambitious statements have not been met with universal optimism. In Taiwan, where market leader TSMC is based, the forecast was greeted with a heavy dose of skepticism. Users on the popular local PTT forum reacted to the news with sarcasm, joking that the Taiwanese monopolist should now supposedly tremble with fear. Professional commentators and analysts express doubts, reminding that Samsung has been making such large-scale promises for years. Criticism is also directed at Samsung's actual chip yield rates, while the stability of partnerships with key players like Qualcomm remains questionable against the backdrop of TSMC's dominance.
Technology Roadmap and New Facilities
Despite the skeptical market reaction, Samsung is actively preparing for its next technological milestones. According to the published roadmap, mass production of chips using the third-generation 2nm process is scheduled for 2028, while the 1.4nm process rollout is slated for 2029. In parallel, company infrastructure is expanding: Samsung's first plant in Taylor, Texas, is expected to begin initial operations by the end of this year, 2026.
