Core Viewpoint - Japanese semiconductor material developers are increasing capital expenditures to support clients preparing for large-scale production of advanced 2-nanometer chips [3] Group 1: Investment and Production Plans - Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd. will invest 20 billion yen (approximately 130 million USD) to build a photoresist factory in South Korea, expected to start production in 2030, increasing its capacity three to four times [3] - Adeka plans to invest 3.2 billion yen to install mass production facilities for new photoresist materials in Ibaraki Prefecture, with operations expected to begin in April 2028 or later [4] - Nitto Denko will build a 15 billion yen factory in Fukushima Prefecture, expected to triple the production capacity of specialty glass materials by 2027 [5] Group 2: Market Trends and Demand - The global semiconductor materials market is projected to reach 97 billion USD by 2030, a 35% increase from 72 billion USD in 2024, driven by strong demand in the artificial intelligence sector [4] - Concerns over raw material shortages are rising as chip demand surges, prompting manufacturers to invest to ensure stable supply [5] Group 3: Technological Advancements - The new metal oxide photoresist (MOR) technology, which utilizes metal-containing compounds for higher resolution, is being developed to support advanced chip manufacturing [4] - JSR is also constructing an MOR factory in South Korea, expected to begin production by the end of next year [4] Group 4: Key Partnerships - Samsung and SK Hynix have signed procurement agreements with OpenAI for data center server memory chips, indicating a strategic collaboration in the semiconductor supply chain [3]