Seoul: The industry ministry and British semiconductor design company Arm have entered into an agreement to initiate a project aimed at training 1,400 chip design specialists, as announced by the presidential office. This collaboration was cemented through a memorandum of understanding signed during a meeting between President Lee Jae Myung, Arm CEO Rene Haas, and Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the presidential chief of staff for policy, Kim Yong-bum, revealed that the two parties will establish a working group to discuss the formation of a semiconductor-specialized educational institution, provisionally named the 'Arm school.' This initiative is intended to produce approximately 1,400 world-class semiconductor design professionals.

Kim emphasized that these specialists will be instrumental in reinforcing the system semiconductor sector. He also mentioned that the industry ministry is committed to swiftly designating a semiconductor-specialized graduate school, with the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology being a strong contender.

During the meeting, discussions between Lee and Son highlighted the importance of ensuring access to artificial intelligence as a fundamental right and enhancing education on semiconductor data. Son compared semiconductors to a "new gun" and expressed admiration for Lee's leadership in the AI era. He also underscored the energy deficit in South Korea and the need for adequate energy resources.

Son noted that strengthening the 'memory alliance' between South Korea and the United States is crucial for South Korea to enhance its strategic position. Arm Holdings, the parent company of Arm, is a subsidiary of SoftBank Group.