South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) will invest in the nation's touch panel industry and has set up a plan that will bump up South Korea's global touch panel market share from 10% in 2012 to 25% by 2015 followed by 35% in 2020, according to Digitimes Research.
MKE aims to achieve these goals by increasing South Korea's self-sufficiency for major components and materials from 2% in 2012 to 15% in 2015 and 30% by 2020, including production of PET film and ITO transparent conductive film products. Investments for researching and developing the technologies in addition to equipment will reach about US$100 million.
South Korea's government will also invest nearly US$100 million in developing 60-inch and above size EPD multi-touch flexible display technology, said Digitimes Research.
MKE is also looking to strengthen relations between its touch panel industry and downstream customers by investing US$22.7 million in medium- to large-size touch panel certification centers in addition to technology training.
Digitimes Research believes that in addition to improving South Korea's touch panel market share, the investments will also help vendors in South Korea's supply chains become more integrated and less reliant on outside suppliers.