These business trade and investment agendas are discussed under various themes that include industrial development and investment promotion, trade expansion and job creation, the strengthening of food and mineral security as well as responses to climate change and decarbonisation – all of which are of mutual interest to both Korea and the African continent. This strategic, trade business platform provides Samsung with an opportunity to showcase its 30-year stay and investment in Africa.

The trade expansion and job creation theme in particular, which seeks to promote economic co-operation by expanding trade between Korea and Africa; as well as by creating new jobs and business opportunities – aligns perfectly with the positive strides made by Samsung in Africa in the last three decades. Samsung has put significant focus on harnessing the power of technology and innovation to effect great positive change in Africa. Specifically, this year, Samsung proudly ushered in the new era of mobile AI on the African continent – the Galaxy S24 series.

Samsung’s plans to enhance its presence in the continent included the launch of the New Smartphone Assembly Plant in Egypt. The 6,000-square-meter plant that was scheduled to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2023 was established mainly to manufacture phones for both local consumption and export.

The company already operates a factory in Beni Suef which was established in 2014 with the current facility manufacturing smartphones, TVs and tablets. Last year, Samsung introduced Egypt-made smartphones to the market. With an annual production capacity of 6-million units, approximately 85% of the output is exported to the Middle East and Africa.

As a result of close collaboration between Samsung and the South African authorities, the company has in the last decade expanded its manufacturing presence in the country by opening a multi-million rand manufacturing plant, located at the Dube TradePort, approximately 30-kilometres north of the coastal city of Durban. Initially, the plant focused on manufacturing domestic appliances such as refrigerators and stoves with plans to expand production to include televisions and other electronic devices.

The electronics giant also revealed its plans to build another multi- million rand TV factory at the same Dube TradePort in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. Due to the factory’s success in creating jobs and giving back to the local economy and community, Samsung is expanding its operations to export products into the rest of the SADC region.

In addition, Samsung South Africa’s landmark R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) which was launched in May 2019 in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic), is now celebrating five years of sustained success.

Five years in and Samsung’s EEIP programme has managed to rise to the challenge of achieving its ambitious goals.

Measurable outcomes include an accumulative investment of R138-million to date in SME development and capacity building in the ICT sector. With environmental sustainability being one of the major focus areas for Samsung, one black-woman-owned E-waste business was supported.

Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, Samsung has also continued to put great emphasis on the need to empower the youth by ensuring that young people contribute greatly to Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda and objectives. To this effect, since 1994 when Samsung entered the African continent – through the establishment of the South African office, there’s been a push for a transformation agenda by investing in a number of empowerment programmes for the future, which have now led to positive social changes within the broader African continent.

Over the years, Samsung has also been running a number of education-focused initiatives, driven through technology across the African continent. One of Samsung’s flagship programmes is the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC)   which seeks to upskill youth aged 18-25 years in future technologies and enhance their employability. This SIC programme offers specially designed curriculum focused on technology development and is tailored to bridge the gap between conventional academic content and the dynamic demands of the tech industry. The skills acquired by students include AI, IoT, Big Data, Coding and Programming – driven through strategic partnerships with institutions of higher educations in Africa.

In both South Africa and Lesotho, Samsung has entered into SIC programme partnerships with a number of higher education institutions. And furthermore, the company has been growing the SIC programme by rolling it out into the rest of Africa, into territories including Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Nigeria. Samsung launched engineering academies across the continent including South Africa and Nigeria.

One hundred were trained and 53 recently graduated in two states: Ekiti and Lagos State in Nigeria. All these graduates are now expected to deepen the pool of well-trained technicians in the African continent. Youth in Africa are now in a positive position to seize the opportunities ahead.

Hundreds of graduates from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and more completed the programme successfully, emerging as changemakers to lead innovation for years to come. Samsung’s commitment and continued investment in the sustainable transformation of the continent re-affirms its position as a passionate supporter and enabler of African dreams.

The company remains resolute in its quest to use its innovative technology, now driven by AI to make a measurable difference in the development of the African continent and that includes its strong partnerships with entities in the public and private sector; as well as the empowerment of young, black Africans and their respective communities.

Samsung is a proud supporter of the Korea-Africa Summit in South Korea, 3 – 5 June 2024.

For more information, visit https://news.samsung.com/za

Thursday, 24 November 2022 – Three top local artists are joining an already impressive line-up on stage at Galaxy KDay, the Cape’s biggest summer music festival. Galaxy KDay, brought to you by Samsung and Kfm 94.5, flexed with Samsung mobile experience, is back on Saturday 4 March at Meerendal Estate.

Early B, Timo ODV and DJ Cosher have now been added to bring the heat.

Kfm Mornings Host, Darren Simpson, says the festival has earned a reputation for featuring the local music industry’s hottest stars, all-time favourites and emerging talent.

“We are beyond excited to be adding to the line-up as we continue the festival’s streak of booking the biggest local music stars. For Galaxy KDay 2023 we are taking it to a whole new level with massively talented artists sharing the Cape’s biggest music festival stage. Galaxy KDay is going to be an unforgettable experience,” says Simpson.

Artists who have already been confirmed include Mi Casa, Youngsta CPT, Will Linley, Nasty C, DJs Fizz and Shai-A, as well as Anica Kiana.

Book your tickets now at Ticketpro and stay tuned to Kfm 94.5 for full updates and ticket giveaways.

#GalaxyKDay

Galaxy KDay ticket prices:

General Access (13+)              R350.00

Chill Zone (18+)                      R650.00

Kids (2 to 12 years old)           R160.00

Galaxy KDay artist line-up:

Mi Casa, Youngsta CPT,  Will Linley, Nasty C, Emo Adams, Jimmy Nevis, DJs Fizz and Shai-A, Anica Kiana

Early B, Timo ODV, DJ Cosher.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 26 October 2022 – South Africa and the Republic of Korea is commemorating the 30^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and Samsung has been part of the government discussions on continued bilateral relations between the two countries and other strategic partnership agreements.

These  engagements of strategic partners are a follow-up to the initial discussions in August that the global CEO of Samsung, Mr. Jong-Hee Han had during his recent visit in South Africa – where he met with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr. Ebrahim Patel as well as the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Dr Naledi Pandor. Mr Han’s visit focused on the company’s long-standing partnership, its long-term vision and continued collaboration with the South African government and possible future opportunities for growth and further investment.

Also, as part of Mr. Han’s discussions with the South African government in the August visit was South Korea’s Busan World Expo 2030 bid with both Ministers with the view of getting support locally for the bid. Importantly, World Expo’s are focused on creating a better future for all humankind and therefore fit perfectly into Samsung’s vision for the upliftment of humanity through technology and innovation. Samsung believes the World Expo being hosted in Busan during the 2030 edition would be the perfect platform to share its technological advancements and how it views technology as the main catalyst for an eco-friendly and green future in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in South Africa, the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) recently hosted a seminar commemorating the 30-year milestone of diplomatic relations and trade agreements between the Republic of Korea and South Africa. In this seminar, Ambassador Ms. Ntombizodwa M Lallie, Deputy Director General at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation for South Africa (DIRCO) delivered congratulatory remarks where she acknowledged and emphasized the importance of honouring the obligations made – referring to the recent meeting between Samsung’s global CEO, DIRCO and DTIC Ministers on Samsung’s commitment and ambitions in contributing to South Africa’s economic transformation and prosperity.

On 12 October 2022, Minster Pandor paid a courtesy visit to the Samsung Headquarters in South Korea during her official visit to South Korea to mark the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic ties. This time she met Samsung Electronics President, Mr. Rhee In-yong and had further discussions in an effort to continue strengthening the existing strategic partnership.

Samsung has acknowledged the importance of the long-standing relationship and the critical role that Minister Pandor, who was previously the Minister of Education and most importantly, the Minister of Science and Technology – has played in strengthening the strategic partnership between the company and the South African government. The Minister’s track record and experience in these key government departments aligns perfectly with Samsung’s agenda around Education and Technology. Samsung has a number of empowerment, entrepreneurial and skills-based projects in the ICT sector in which it operates in.

Inspired by the transformative power of economic investment that took South Korea from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most successful economies, Samsung South Africa has re-affirmed its commitment to continue making incredible strides forward in its long-term vision for the country. This is reflected in the company’s continued investment in the country coupled with its Level 1 – BBBEE Rating for four (4) consecutive years, which is aligned with Samsung’s dedication to remain an active contributor to the future of the South African economy and strong supporter of economic transformation.

Importantly, Samsung has re-affirmed its commitment to continue building on the landmark multimillionaire Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), which is already celebrating over three years of sustained success. Launched in May 2019 in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and sector support from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), this programme is expected to have a measurable impact on job creation with a projected contribution of over a billion rands to the South African economy at large.

Samsung’s 10-year plan aims to address key developmental aspects linked to the National Development Plan and the overall transformation of the economy. Samsung’s EEIP programme is aligned to the DTIC’s Black Industrialisation programme through e-Waste recycling and beneficiation, which has seen an investment in two black, female-owned entities who now operate in the full value chain of e-Waste. It also has a strong focus on enterprise development and capacity building in ICT through scarce skills development. In addition, Samsung is developing 4IR skills in partnership with a number of institutions of higher learning in South Africa.

South African youth are gaining artisanal and electronics skills through the Samsung Engineering Academy programme as well as coding, software development, IOT and artificial intelligence skills through the Samsung Innovation Campus programme. Additionally, learners in grades 10 & 11 will be encouraged to solve social issues in their communities through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is being piloted in 51 schools across the country.

Ultimately, as part of a global community, these ongoing collaborations and empowerment initiatives are designed to make a difference to all people.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 14 October 2022  – Televisions have been the go-to method of viewing gaming content ever since the first gaming console became the in-thing. Technology has improved quite a bit since then (as you would expect) with new features, like variable refresh rate (VRR), drastically changing how users experience games.

In the gaming world, different scenes require different levels of framerates. VRR therefore is able to adjusts the display’s refresh rate to match the graphics processing unit (GPU)’s outputting frames on the fly. Gamers enjoy it when every single frame is displayed as soon as possible to prevent input lag and not repeated, therefore avoiding game stuttering and screen tearing. Most of the new features that include this incredible VRR can be found in Samsung’s newest addition to its Neo QLED TV range – the QN90B that is able to take normal home-viewing and gaming experience to the next level.

The More LEDs, the Better

Samsung has been a significant player in display technology, and it continues its extended innovative stride with the QN90B using mini-LED backlighting technology for a richer viewing experience. With local dimming zones, the bloom around bright subjects in dark scenes are vastly reduced. This also means that HDR content will look its best, further improved with an HDR10+ certification to display the content as the developers intended. As any gamer will tell you, framerates are important and can mean the difference between taking an L and winning the chicken dinner.

The QN90B offers a native refresh rate of 100Hz and thanks to the full array of HDMI 2.1 ports – it supports 120Hz with the current-gen consoles at its native 4k resolution. Plug into a gaming PC to the 43in and 50in models and they will even manage to get up to 144Hz. The combination of a high refresh rate and AMD’s Free Sync Premium Pro VRR technology means that your eyes are protected from screen tearing.

Just as important as a high refresh rate for gamers is low pixel response time and input lag. On displays with a high pixel response time, fast-moving objects can appear blurry and lose some definition. And doing anything with high input lag is incredibly frustrating and can ruin your immersion. The QN90B features Samsung’s Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro so fast-moving objects look clear and with no discernible input lag.

When deciding on a TV for gaming, an aspect that is often overlooked is viewing angles. Only one or two lucky viewers will get the prime seat right in front of the TV with the rest of the team off to the sides. With the QN90B positioning doesn’t matter (unless they are behind it for some reason) so colour accuracy and contrast will be fantastic for everyone.

A Game-Worthy Control Centre

The Samsung QN90B features Samsung’s Game Bar, a UI overlay that gives gamers the tools they need to make the most out of their games. It displays current settings like input lag, real-time FPS, high-definition resolution, variable refresh rates and available Bluetooth pairing sound devices. It also allows gamers to change the display settings they care about most without having to dig through menus. Also, it offers switching between the default 16:9 aspect ratio to the ultrawide 21:9 or 32:9 in supported games.

The Samsung QN90B delivers amazing gaming experiences that you can currently buy. The increased refresh rate, low pixel response time and more-than-capable HDR performance will make for an immersive gaming experience.

Samsung supports bid of Busan expo 2030

In a move that combines sustainability and innovation, Samsung Electronics developed a new material that gives ocean-bound plastics new life as they’re incorporated into various Galaxy devices. Made with repurposed ocean-bound discarded fishing nets, the use of this material marks another step in our Galaxy for the Planet journey that aims to minimize our environmental footprint and help foster more sustainable lifestyles for the Galaxy community.

Now and into the future, Samsung will incorporate repurposed ocean-bound plastics throughout our entire product lineup, starting with our new Galaxy devices that will be revealed on February 9^th at Unpacked. These devices will reflect our ongoing effort to eliminate single-use plastics and expand the use of other eco-conscious materials, such as recycled post-consumer material (PCM) and recycled paper. With this transformation, the future of Galaxy technology will bring leading product design and deliver better environmental impact.

The Hidden Threat of Discarded Fishing Nets

When you think of ‘ocean-bound plastic’,¹ you likely envision a water bottle or a grocery bag drifting on the ocean surface. What may not come to mind is a more hidden threat – the 640,000 tons of fishing nets that are abandoned and discarded every year.

Lingering in our oceans for centuries, these ‘ghost nets’ are responsible for trapping and entangling marine life, damaging coral reefs and natural habitats and even ending up in our food and water sources. These discarded fishing nets are disrupting the delicate balance of our environment at an alarming rate. Collecting and repurposing these nets are vital first steps in keeping our oceans clean as well as preserving the planet and our collective future.

Designing More Sustainable Products

Samsung has always pushed the boundaries of mobile technology, and the company is now looking to do the same with its sustainability practices. By giving new life to discarded fishing nets that would otherwise become dangerous waste, Samsung – through its creative solution – exemplifies how we can all do more with less to conserve our planet’s resources.

▲(From left) The Samsung developers who built the integrated circuits in the company’s 8K TVs – Sangdeok Kim, Hansoo Seong, Junghyun Lim, and Yongjoo Song

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 9 November 2021 – With the continued evolution of high-definition televisions, the worlds displayed on our TV screens are becoming more realistic than ever. 8K TVs, which represent the new standard of premium television, maximize immersion by providing such vivid high definition that it is like users are beholding the scenes before their very eyes.

This incredibly sharp resolution was made possible by the enhancement of the semiconductors within the TVs. Capable of enabling the functions that allow sharper resolution, these solutions are the DTV SoC (Digital TV System on Chip), T-CON (Timing Controller), and DDI (Display Driver IC). Samsung Newsroom sat down with the developers of S6HD820 (which opened the door for 8nm¹ DTV SoC), S6TST21 (the industry’s first 8K 120Hz T-CON) and S6CT9BC (a DDI with a maximum speed of 8Gbps) to hear the story of the unseen innovation behind these solutions.

From DTV SoC to DDI – Sending Video Signals to Displays

Unlike in the past when televisions were only used for watching shows, the role of the TV has gradually expanded over time. These days, our TVs are becoming a platform that also allows us to play games, work out as well as do a broad range of other activities. As people come to expect a more diverse range of features from their TVs, a higher standard of premium features is also being brought to televisions.

TVs are output devices for content, making a high standard of picture quality crucial for user satisfaction. Digital signals generally undergo three stages before being displayed. First, the DTV SoC receives compressed data from broadcasts or the internet, extracts the data to convert it into video and sends the video and audio to the screen and speakers. The T-CON then receives the processed video data and sends it back to the DDI with careful timing to ensure smooth operation. Last, the digital signal sent to the DDI is converted to an analogue format and the video is displayed on the TV screen.

Simplifying DTV SoC with ‘One Chip’ and Enhancing NPU Function

The DTV SoC, which receives video data from a cable or set-top box, is also referred to as ‘the brain of the TV.’ Hansoo Seong, who is part of the DTV SoC development team, explains that, “The DTV SoC extracts the audio and video signals separately from the compressed input stream. It then provides the function that adjusts the audio and video data according to each scene being displayed.”

As picture quality has evolved from the 4K to the 8K standard, the role of the DTV SOC has become more important. Samsung’s developers were committed to finding a solution that would support 8K resolution while also reducing power usage at the same time. An NPU (Neural Processing Unit) was applied to the DTV SoC so that AI technology could be applied to the overall improvement of both picture quality and audio processing. This technology led to a much more precise display output. On top of this, the DTV SoC has been integrated with an upscaling IC² to improve power efficiency.

The biggest hurdle in creating the 8nm¹ DTV SoC, known as S6HD820, was the complex engineering required to integrate two ICs into one chip and the subsequent issue of overheating. “The better the NPU performance, the more the AI learning is reinforced, which leads to better TV performance. But this also makes semiconductors that much more complex to engineer and results in more severe overheating,” said Hansoo Seong. “We worked hard to find the right balance to prevent excessive overheating, and eventually succeeded in optimizing the solution.”

The Evolution of T-CON: From Two 60Hz Chips to a Single 120Hz Chip

The T-CON takes the video data from the DTV SoC and converts it according to the demands of the DDI. “The bigger the panel size and the higher the resolution, the more important the role of the T-CON becomes,” said Junghyun Lim, who participated in developing Samsung’s latest 8K T-CON. “The data transmission speed of the T-CON is also important when it comes to quickly transmitting high-resolution video data to the DDI.”

With the improvement from 4K to 8K, screen resolution increases by four times. Thus, the amount of data that needs to be sent also quadruples, which means the T-CON’s speed needs to be enhanced as well. The development team solved the overheating problem that accompanies rapidly rising speeds by applying a new node process and simplifying the chips. In addition, the two 8K 60Hz chips have been integrated to become one S6TST21.

Previous systems required four semiconductors in 8K TVs, including the DTV SoC, the upscaling IC² for 8K, and two T-CONs. The new system has reduced the total amount of semiconductors required to two by combining the DTV SOC and the upscaling IC² into one solution, and merging the two T-CONs into one. These changes have made it much easier to design the required boards.

DDI Integration Increases Speeds and Reduces Chip Count

The DDI is responsible for the final step before the video is displayed. This is where the digital data received from the T-CON is converted into the analogue signal that will be used as input for the display. Yongjoo Song, who participated in development of the DDI, said, “The DDI needs to deliver high analogue voltage to the panel quickly and precisely to allow the video data from the T-CON to be displayed accurately.”

To facilitate the increase in voltage, a new driver IC became necessary that could simultaneously handle higher voltages and prevent overheating. “Increasing the speed of the driver buffer was the most difficult challenge,” said Yongjoo Song. “After changing the circuit structure and layout in a range of ways to reduce the driver IC’s input/output latency, we were able to develop a new driver IC that could operate at faster speeds.”

The development of a DDI that operates at high speeds resulted in the number of DDIs being reduced by almost half and the number of relevant chips being reduced by dozens. This makes TV panels easier to construct.

The Secret to Tech Leadership: Development of Samsung’s Own Interface and Organic Semiconductor

From 4K to 8K TVs, the secret to Samsung’s technological leadership is its know-how and the high level of consumer trust it has accumulated over time. In addition, Samsung is constantly analysing market and technology trends to apply them to products, and Samsung’s own interface has played a huge role in these efforts. “The Samsung interface not only delivers speed but also utilizes the company’s semiconductor driver technologies,” said Sangdeok Kim. “By utilizing its own interface, Samsung was able to make the 8K TV DDI based on the industry’s fastest interface.”

Another one of Samsung’s unique advantages is that it is developing the DTV SoC, T-CON and DDI in tandem with one another. This offers a big advantage, as it allows better integration and compatibility among the three components that must work together.

The developers from Samsung’s S.LSI Business make no secret of their excitement regarding 8K TV technology and the future of semiconductors. “When I first started working in this area, I was making semiconductors for FHD-resolution TVs. I remember feeling very proud when the products entered mass production,” related Yongjoo Song. “Already, TV resolutions have surpassed 4K to reach the 8K standard, and TV screens continue to get bigger and bigger. With larger high-resolution TVs being introduced to the market, semiconductors must be equipped to perform more complex functions, which adds to the challenges in developing them. But overcoming those challenges will remain the ever-present goal for developers like us.”

¹ nm: nanometer

² Upscaling IC: A semiconductor that converts low-resolution videos into high resolution (converts 2K and 4K videos into 8K)

]]> https://news.samsung.com/za/samsungs-smart-tv-oriented-research-efforts-recognised-with-a-best-paper-award-at-icce-2021-2?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=direct Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:34:41 +0000 https://bit.ly/3D1JoiD JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 9 November 2021 – Researchers from Samsung’s Visual Display (VD) Business have been declared winners of a Best Paper Award at the IEEE’s (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE 2021) for their technical paper entitled “Analysing Images for Music Recommendation.”

ICCE is the flagship conference of the IEEE Consumer Technology Society (formerly the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society), held annually in conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA. A total of 190 research papers were accepted this year, with five finalists nominated for the virtual conference’s Best Paper Award. The competition consisted of video-recorded paper presentations and a live Q&A session, and just three papers were selected as winners.

“The work portrayed in this paper connects domains such as AI, UX and affective computing with the goal of providing an emotionally enriching user experience by bridging artworks and music in an unconventional manner,” said Anant Baijal, a Samsung Staff Engineer (Advanced R&D Group) and the lead author of the paper. “We propose a method that considers both an artwork’s style (classical, baroque, impressionist etc.) and the emotion it conveys (calm, joyful, mellow, etc.) to automatically curate music that is well-suited to accompany the image.”

The research highlighted in the paper is under review for possible commercialisation in Samsung’s flagship products, including the recently announced Neo QLED TVs, along with lifestyle products such as The Frame. Currently, through Ambient Mode on QLED and Art Mode on The Frame, consumers can display pictures of their choice when they are not watching TV. The research team wants to take the user experience to the next level by giving consumers the option to play music that is curated based on automatic analysis of the image displayed on the screen. The results obtained from initial tests conducted during the research support the efficacy of the proposed approach.

“When a user uploads a picture, such as artwork or a photograph, our proprietary AI algorithms evaluate the image to recommend music through a user-subscribed music streaming provider,” added Baijal. “Future work on this technology would include integrating other parameters into the algorithm, such as the weather, time, geolocation and user activity, in addition to the image being displayed. We are designing the algorithm to be capable of adapting to individual users’ preferences.”

“At Samsung’s Advanced R&D Group, we’re continually striving to provide a more dynamic screen experience by developing innovative technologies that complement consumers’ ever-changing lifestyles,” said Dr. Danny Hyun, Corporate Vice President and Head of Advanced R&D Group at Samsung Electronics and a co-author of the paper.

The Advanced R&D Group’s research spans multidisciplinary areas such as AI, Big Data and connectivity, and the Group is also responsible for creating futuristic concepts and product prototypes. Multiple international patent applications covering the technology’s concept, components and user scenarios have been filed by Samsung Electronics.

Check out Samsung’s First Look 2021 event (highlights available here) for more details on the company’s vision for the future of screens, including its latest display innovations and 2021 product line-up.

From news studios to production control and press rooms, Samsung, a leader in the digital signage market for 12 consecutive years, will take visitors on a virtual tour of a typical broadcasting environment to showcase a portfolio that enables any broadcaster to reimagine their studio and realise their vision.

At the centre of the news studio, visitors will experience how Samsung’s industry-leading modular display, The Wall, brings broadcasts to life in perfect picture quality. The company’s Crystal UHD, QLED 8K and Business TVs enhance all areas of a studio, while its business monitors help optimise engagement and efficiency behind the scenes in production control rooms.

These products are brought to life not only through the virtual showcase, but also through compelling customer success stories. Visitors will have a chance to hear how leading global news, sports and entertainment broadcasts, along with award-winning media companies, have implemented Samsung’s technology to deliver seamless viewing experiences to audiences around the globe.

To join the experience and learn more about what Samsung’s latest visual display solutions and innovations can do to enhance your studio, please visit https://bit.ly/3sskkeI.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 9 November 2021 –  Samsung recently shared a new insight that takes the world a step closer to realising neuromorphic chips that can better mimic the brain.

Envisioned by the leading engineers and scholars from Samsung and Harvard University, the insight was published as a Perspective paper, titled ‘Neuromorphic electronics based on copying and pasting the brain’, by Nature Electronics. Donhee Ham, Fellow of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Professor of Harvard University, Professor Hongkun Park of Harvard University, Sungwoo Hwang, President and CEO of Samsung SDS and former Head of SAIT, and Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics are the co-corresponding authors.

Image of rat neurons on CNEA (CMOS nanoelectrode array).

The essence of the vision put forward by the authors is best summed up by the two words, ‘copy’ and ‘paste’. The paper suggests a way to copy the brain’s neuronal connection map using a breakthrough nanoelectrode array developed by Dr. Ham and Dr. Park, and to paste this map onto a high-density three-dimensional network of solid-state memories, the technology for which Samsung has been pioneering. Through this copy and paste approach, the authors envision to create a memory chip that approximates the unique computing traits of the brain – low power, facile learning, adaptation to environment, and even autonomy and cognition – that have been beyond the reach of current technology.

The brain is made up of a large number of neurons, and their wiring map is responsible for the brain’s functions. Thus the knowledge of the map is the key to reverse engineering the brain. While the original goal of neuromorphic engineering, launched in the 1980s, was to mimic such structure and function of the neuronal networks on a silicon chip, it proved difficult because, even until now, little is known of how the large number of neurons are wired together to create the brain’s higher functions. Thus, the goal of neuromorphic engineering has been eased to designing a chip ‘inspired’ by the brain rather than rigorously mimicking it.

This paper suggests a way to return to the original neuromorphic goal of the brain reverse engineering. The nanoelectrode array can effectively enter a large number of neurons so it can record their electrical signals with high sensitivity. These massively parallel intracellular recordings inform the neuronal wiring map, indicating where neurons connect with one another and how strong these connections are. Hence from these tell-tale recordings, the neuronal wiring map can be extracted, or ‘copied’. The copied neuronal map can then be ‘pasted’ to a network of non-volatile memories – such as commercial flash memories that are used in our everyday life in solid-state drives (SSD), or ‘new’ memories such as resistive random access memories (RRAM) – by programming each memory so that its conductance represents the strength of each neuronal connection in the copied map.

(From the left) Donhee Ham, Fellow of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Professor of Harvard University, Hongkun Park, Professor of Harvard University, Sungwoo Hwang, President and CEO of Samsung SDS (former Head of SAIT) and Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, the co-corresponding authors.

The paper takes a step further and suggests a strategy to rapidly paste the neuronal wiring map onto a memory network. A network of specially-engineered non-volatile memories can learn and express the neuronal connection map, when directly driven by the intracellularly recorded signals. This is a scheme that directly downloads the brain’s neuronal connection map onto the memory chip. Since the human brain has an estimated 100 billion or so neurons, and a thousand or so times more synaptic connections, the ultimate neuromorphic chip will require 100 trillion or so memories. Integrating such vast number of memories on a single chip would be made possible by 3D integration of memories, the technology led by Samsung that opened up a new era for memory industry.

Leveraging its leading experience in chip manufacturing, Samsung is planning to continue its research into neuromorphic engineering, in order to extend Samsung’s leadership in the field of next generation AI semiconductors. “The vision we present is highly ambitious,” said Dr. Ham. “But working toward such a heroic goal will push the boundaries of machine intelligence, neuroscience, and semiconductor technology.”

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 18 June 2021 – These days we all have smartphones and other electronic devices we no longer use because they’re outdated or broken. Unfortunately, more often than not, these devices and its components can end up in trash and landfills. In fact, more than 50 million tons1 of electronics are thrown away each year and a mere 17 percent is eventually recycled. In keeping with its mission to reimagine a better planet, Samsung is committed to ensuring that more devices are responsibly recycled.

Driven by a desire to keep our planet clean for generations to come, Samsung regularly engages in eco-conscious efforts that are helping to establish a circular economy. The company is constantly exploring ways to reduce its products’ impact on the environment, including increasing product lifespans and spearheading efforts to recycle their resources. This is essential as most ‘e-waste’ ends up polluting the environment by sitting in landfills or being incinerated. With annual e-waste expected to reach as much as 74 million tons by 2030, it is undeniably the time to take steps to reduce consumption and minimise waste. Repairing old devices, on the other hand, saves energy and finite resources that would otherwise be consumed in the manufacturing of new products, which carries considerable negative impacts on the environment. The reality is that a disproportionate negative impact to the environment comes from smartphones, as they have a relatively short average useful lifespan of only two years. This is why Samsung has designed initiatives aimed at alleviating the impact on the environment.

Samsung South Africa has implemented a popular trade-in programme that makes a difference. You can trade-in over 6 000 Samsung and non-Samsung eligible devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets and many more and it would be responsibly disposed off. Additionaly Samsung repair or replacement process, is designed as such that electronic components and products are collected, checked, recorded and stored at Samsung warehouses. Identified e-waste is pre scrapped to ensure no unauthorized reuse in substandard repairs and irresponsible disposal thereof. Waste is collated on a weekly or monthly basis. Hereafter, Samsung’s authorised recycling and scrapping partners collect all waste, recycle and dispose of the materials in the prescribed and governed processes to minimize waste to landfill. Finally, a scrapping certificate is issued by the partner as guarantee that material is responsibly disposed of.

“It is an essential part of Samsung’s mission to put the environment first in all business operations, with several long-term sustainability programmes that include sustainable packaging design and the reduction of carbon footprints through the use of recycled materials. Critically, the positive impact on the environment will result in lasting change that benefits all South Africans. The fact is, all positive changes start with the determination to reimagine old ways and to do what’s right for all. We’re reimagining environmental sustainability into everything we do from packaging to product design, energy consumption to recycling,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

Additionally, Samsung has a long-term vision for conserving the country’s natural resources, while at the same time playing a role in job creation. As part of Samsung’s R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), under the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment that was launched in 2019, Samsung, in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), embarked on an initiative to provide opportunities for Black Industrialists in the recycling sector. Through this initiative, Samsung has become an integral partner in the creation and support of black-owned businesses that can manage and impact Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment.

Samsung believes in a better, greener tomorrow and that all things can be repaired, recycled, upcycled and renewed. Now is the time where technology and innovation can be used to solve environmental problems, not add to them. Together, we can create a greener Galaxy.

^{1 According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020 by Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), the amount of electronic waste in 2019 was 53.6 million metric tons (Mt).}