Chip manufacturing and research: Samsung to invest 74 billion US dollars

Samsung is increasing its investment capital for 2026: the group plans to invest 110 trillion won in its semiconductor manufacturing as well as research and development. This corresponds to just under 74 billion US dollars or 64 billion euros when converted.

The investment sum is so massive that it requires a stock exchange announcement. In it, Samsung writes that the expenditures are intended to cement its position during the AI boom. Samsung emphasizes in the announcement that it is the only company that manufactures memory and logic chips such as processors or AI accelerators while simultaneously operating packaging facilities. In packaging facilities, the chips are placed on their carriers, which makes them usable in the first place.

110 trillion won is more than Samsung generates in revenue across the entire group in a single quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2025, this was just under 94 trillion won, or about 55 billion euros at the current exchange rate.

Little short-term benefit

However, it will likely take years for the investments to pay off. That's how long it takes to build a semiconductor plant, and chips are designed years in advance. In the short term, Samsung wants to invest additional money in acquisitions. The focus is on acquisition targets in the fields of robotics, medical technology, automotive, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning).

What sounds good in theory, however, must first prove itself in practice. The competitive spirit between Samsung's divisions is high. Recently, reports circulated that Samsung's memory subsidiary does not want to guarantee DRAM and NAND flash to its smartphone sister.

Samsung's stock temporarily rose on the South Korean stock exchange but has since fallen back to the previous day's level. The entire tech sector is currently in the red on stock exchanges worldwide.

(mma)