en.Wedoany.com Reported - (Corporation) Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (hereinafter referred to as "Gyeonggi Innovation Center") has successfully completed the "2026 Portland, USA Market Entry Program," which supports eight promising semiconductor startups incubated by the National Center for Creative Economy & Innovation in entering the U.S. market.

Participating companies achieved tangible results, including signing Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), conducting Proof of Concept (PoC) tests, and engaging in investment discussions, during direct collaboration meetings with global semiconductor giants such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Tokyo Electron.

Based in Portland, Oregon, located in the representative U.S. semiconductor cluster "Silicon Forest," the program supports Korean semiconductor startups in establishing a local market presence. The Gyeonggi Innovation Center collaborated with the Portland economic development agency Greater Portland Inc. (GPI), the official Oregon state economic development agency Business Oregon, and the semiconductor industry consortium Silicon Forest Partnership (SFP) to operate the program for approximately four months from February to May.

Selected companies received support for direct market entry, including one-on-one business meetings with global semiconductor giants, expert consultations in various fields, and networking with local investors and partners.

During the local program held from May 11 to 15, six of the eight participating companies signed NDAs with Intel's foundry division (Intel Foundry). Additionally, a foundation for further collaboration was established, including advancing NDAs and PoC with Lam Research, negotiating PoC projects with Tokyo Electron, and conducting investment discussions with global asset management firm Wellington. Participating companies also formed broad collaboration touchpoints with global semiconductor companies such as NVIDIA, Micron, and Siemens EDA.

Kim Won-kyung, CEO of the Gyeonggi Innovation Center, stated that through this program, Korean semiconductor startups have taken the first step toward substantive collaboration with global leaders in the U.S. market. He added that the center will continue to expand the global achievements of Korean startups while supporting the conversion of partnerships established locally into actual business operations.