Redmond: Kwak Noh-jung, the chief executive officer of SK hynix, is set to engage in high-profile discussions with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and its CEO Satya Nadella in the United States, as revealed by industry sources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kwak will be present at the Microsoft CEO Summit 2026, which kicks off at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This exclusive event, known for its privacy and selective guest list, is an opportunity for influential leaders to network and discuss strategic initiatives. Kwak's attendance at this summit marks a continuation of his participation in this elite gathering, having attended a similar event in 2024.

In addition to the summit, Kwak is anticipated to join a formal dinner hosted by Bill Gates at his residence. This gathering, which had been paused for several years, has recently resumed, signaling the potential for renewed collaborations and discussions on shared interests.

The meetings are poised to bolster the strategic partnership between Microsoft and SK hynix, focusing on the supply of high bandwidth memory (HBM). Microsoft already stands as a significant customer for SK hynix's dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash products. Notably, SK hynix's fifth-generation HBM3E chips are integrated into Microsoft's newest artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator chip, Maia 200, underscoring the deepening ties between the two tech giants.