Samsung Spends Record $25.6 Billion on R&D to Boost AI Chip Development

Samsung is significantly ramping up its investment in future technologies. The company spent 37.7 trillion won (around $25.6 billion) on research and development in 2025, setting a new record for its annual R&D spending. The amount, revealed in its latest business report, is 7.8% higher than the 35 trillion won the company invested in 2024.

Samsung makes massive R&D investment targeting AI memory chips

Samsung is one of the most innovative tech companies in the world, often filing more patents than anyone else. The company’s increasing R&D spending in future technologies reflects its ambition. According to the Korean media, the firm aims to secure an early lead in the rapidly intensifying global race for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, particularly advanced memory technologies used in data centers and AI systems.

Demand for these components has surged worldwide as companies race to build powerful AI infrastructure. Among the most important technologies are high bandwidth memory (HBM) and high-capacity DDR5 memory. These chips play a crucial role in handling the enormous data workloads required by modern AI models.

HBM, in particular, has become a critical component in AI accelerators used by cloud providers and chipmakers developing large-scale machine learning systems. Samsung’s heavy R&D spending signals its ambition to compete aggressively in this market, where rivals such as SK hynix and Micron are also investing heavily.

Alongside its research spending, Samsung also significantly increased its facility investment in 2025. The company allocated 52.7 trillion won toward building and upgrading semiconductor production infrastructure. This figure is 5 trillion won higher than its earlier investment plan. This comes as Samsung rushes to commercialize the next generation of HBM chips.

These investments underscore Samsung’s broader strategy of making early inroads to secure technological leadership tomorrow. As AI continues to reshape industries ranging from cloud computing to consumer electronics, control over advanced semiconductor technologies will likely become one of the most important competitive advantages in the tech sector.