SK hynix held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Indiana fab on Aug. 27 (local time) at Purdue University’s Holloway Gymnasium, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, taking its first step toward securing a local AI memory production base in the United States.
The Indiana fab is SK hynix’s first AI memory production hub in the U.S. Built on a site of approximately 133 acres (about 470,000m²) in West Lafayette, Indiana, the fab will house an HBM* production line and the Advanced Packaging* R&D Testbed. SK hynix plans to supply next-generation HBM that has undergone on-site packaging and testing to its U.S. customers starting in the second half of 2029.
* Advanced Packaging: An advanced semiconductor back-end process technology that overcomes the limits of fine-grained scaling to reduce chip size by integrating multiple chips into a single package or stacking them vertically to enhance performance.
▲ Rendering of the SK hynix Indiana fab
With the rapid surge in AI demand, the importance of global AI memory supply has grown significantly, drawing attention from both Korea and the U.S. to the company’s establishment of a U.S. production hub.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by a broad range of U.S. government and Indiana officials, including Indiana Governor Mike Braun, U.S. Senator Todd Young, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, and West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter. Representing the Korean government was Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador of South Korea to the U.S. Key executives from SK Group also attended, including Vice Chairman and Head of SK Americas Yu Jeong-Joon, Vice Chairman Lee Hyung-Hee, and SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung.
Robert Abrams, Chairman of the Korea Defense Veterans Association, and Leem Ho-young, President of the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation, who have played important roles in the Korea-U.S. alliance, also attended. Their presence underscored the significance of the event beyond the groundbreaking itself, marking a new milestone for strengthening economic and technological cooperation between Korea and the U.S. in the AI era.
‘The Indiana fab will serve as a key hub for AI leadership in Korea and the US’
▲ Site where the SK hynix Indiana fab will be built
The groundbreaking ceremony opened with welcoming remarks from Mayor Erin Easter, followed by opening remarks from key representatives of the event’s co-hosts: SK hynix, the state of Indiana, and Purdue University.
“We are proud to welcome the SK hynix fab to Indiana and to play a leading role in semiconductor innovation,” Braun said in his opening remarks. “With Indiana serving as the home of this historic project, we hope this investment will drive new growth in the region and generate an impact that extends across the United States.”
Daniels then took the stage. “Purdue University is a leading U.S. institution that produces more engineering and science talent than any other university, and we also place great importance on expanding research and job opportunities through collaboration with industry,” he said. “We will work closely with SK hynix to help ensure its success here, and we hope this project will mark an important starting point in establishing Indiana as a hub for the semiconductor industry and related technologies.”
The event also saw the signing of two agreements to advance collaboration centered on the Indiana fab.
▲ (From left) Purdue University Executive Vice President Daniel DeLaurentis; SK hynix Executive Vice President and Head of Global Infra Kim Choon-Hwan, and Purdue Research Foundation CEO Chad Pittman taking a photo after signing the MOU.
First, SK hynix signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Purdue University at the groundbreaking ceremony for research and development (R&D) in the field of advanced packaging.
Under the agreement, the two sides will continue to collaborate in various areas, including joint research and talent development for next-generation AI memory.
▲ (From left) Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Head of International Trade Yoon Chul-min, Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation Chairman Leem Ho-young, Korea Defense Veterans Association Chairman Robert Abrams, and SK Inc. Vice Chairman Lee Hyung-Hee taking a photo after signing the joint statement
A joint statement outlining cooperation among key stakeholders to provide new employment and career opportunities for discharged U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) members was also announced at the event, honoring the special historical connection with Indiana, which sent approximately 140,000 service members to the Korean War. Under the initiative, SK Group will participate as a hiring corporation in the USFK job platform operated by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation. The signing was also significant in expanding Korea-U.S. cooperation, which has traditionally centered on security, into the economic, industrial, and employment sectors. In particular, a Korean War veteran in his 90s attended the event in person, joining the occasion as the Korea-U.S. alliance entered a new chapter.
In particular, Korea Defense Veterans Association Chairman Robert Abrams introduced three Korean War veterans in their 90s, taking a moment to honor their sacrifice and dedication. Attendees paid tribute to the veterans with enthusiastic applause and reflected on the significance of the longstanding Korea-U.S. alliance.
▲ (From left) Indiana Governor Mike Braun, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung and Purdue University President Mitch Daniels
Kwak, Braun, and Daniels pressed a button, as steam from a Purdue train racing past cleared to reveal the actual Indiana fab construction site. The ceremony continued with construction workers gathering around an H-beam bearing the Korean and U.S. flags on opposite ends and applauding enthusiastically.
Dignitaries, Purdue University faculty, staff, and students, and local residents shared in the message of “starting together” through the performance connecting the two distant locations in real time. They celebrated the milestone moment with enthusiastic applause and cheers, marking the official start of the Indiana fab’s construction.
▲ Main attendees taking a photo at the groundbreaking ceremony for the AI memory advanced packaging production base held in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. (Seventh from the left Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung and Indiana Governor Mike Braun)
An SK hynix exhibition booth was also set up at the venue for attendees to explore. Designed around the concept of a “giant data center,” the booth showcased SK hynix’s history and vision, detailed information on the Indiana fab, and the company’s key product portfolio, including HBM. Attendees continued to visit the booth to explore its exhibits before and after the opening ceremony.
Beyond production: How the Indiana fab will advance R&D and talent development
The Indiana fab will be established not only as a U.S. AI memory production base, but also as a hub connecting R&D, talent development, and local industry. SK hynix CEO Kwak provided further details on the fab’s role and future vision during his presentation at the event.
Kwak described the U.S. as a hub for AI innovation, bringing together leading customers, research capabilities, and a robust industrial ecosystem, and explained the rationale behind the Indiana fab. He said SK hynix plans to establish the facility as its first HBM production base in the U.S., supplying “Made in USA” HBM, responding more closely to growing AI memory demand, and ensuring a stable supply of next-generation memory to U.S. customers.
Kwak also outlined plans to expand collaboration with local universities, research institutions, and the regional semiconductor industry while creating new opportunities for local communities through direct and indirect job creation. He further expressed SK hynix’s ambition to build a U.S. AI memory ecosystem in which technology, talent, and industry grow together.
▲ Purdue University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK hynix for R&D collaboration
Local universities also responded positively to upcoming R&D and talent development collaboration centered on the Indiana fab.
“Purdue University has grown by 30% over the past decade and produces more science and engineering talent than any other university in the United States,” said Daniels, expressing confidence. “We are the perfect partner to develop the talent that top-tier companies like SK hynix need and provide a world-class research environment.”
“It will also provide students with an invaluable opportunity to study up close a company that is leading the key technologies and products defining our time,” he added. “We are proud to partner with this exceptional company, which is at the forefront of the critical technologies of our time and the global semiconductor market.”
The region’s future talent also expressed excitement about the new opportunities the Indiana fab will create. “Establishing a direct partnership with a global company like SK hynix means tremendous new opportunities will become available to students like us,” said Lukasz Nagpal, an engineering student at Purdue University. “I hope this partnership will be beneficial and have a positive impact on both SK hynix and Purdue University.”
▲ Rendering of the SK hynix Indiana fab
Interest in the changes the Indiana fab will bring also extended to the local community.
“SK hynix’s investment will bring transformative changes to the lives of local residents,” Easter said. “Most importantly, it will create opportunities for outstanding talent from Purdue University and other world-class educational institutions in our region to build careers in advanced technology.”
“SK hynix and our community share a commitment to investing in the future, focusing on solving problems, continuously pursuing innovation and putting the lives of local residents first,” Easter added. “Building on these shared values, we will work together to create a mutually beneficial relationship that delivers long-term benefits for both sides.”
Meanwhile, the groundbreaking ceremony was livestreamed on the SK hynix Newsroom and YouTube, allowing viewers to follow the key moments of the event without attending in person.
