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Samsung to open Tokyo office for global strategy think tank to strengthen research capabilities
Monday, March 30, 2026 at 08:53 PM
Samsung Global Strategy Group is set to establish a new office in Tokyo by the end of the year to enhance its research and market intelligence capabilities in Japan, focusing on local semiconductor ecosystem trends and supply chain monitoring.
Context
On March 30, 2026, reports confirmed that Samsung Electronics is expanding its strategic footprint in Japan by establishing a new office for its internal think tank, Samsung Global Research (SGR), in Tokyo. This move aims to strengthen the group's research capabilities regarding the Japanese economy, industrial trends, and local consumer behavior. The facility will complement Samsung's existing technical investments in the country, including a planned $170 million (25 billion yen) advanced chip packaging R&D center in Yokohama scheduled for 2027.
This strategic expansion represents Samsung’s first major real estate acquisition in Japan in over a decade, signaling a pivot toward deeper integration with Japan’s semiconductor supply chain. By positioning its "global strategy think tank" in Tokyo, Samsung intends to facilitate closer collaboration with elite Japanese materials and equipment suppliers like Resonac and Disco, as well as the University of Tokyo.
The initiative is critical as Samsung seeks to narrow the gap with TSMC in the high-stakes AI accelerator market. Strengthening research in Japan allows the company to tap into localized expertise in 2.5D and 3D packaging technologies, which are essential for integrating High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) with logic chips. This reinforced research presence is expected to accelerate Samsung's "one-stop" foundry and packaging service strategy.
Sources (8)
2025 Interim Business ReportSamsung Global Research to Open Tokyo Office This YearSamsung Says Japan Has Grown More Important, Sets Up Second ...Samsung Global Research opens Tokyo office to boost Japan ...Samsung reportedly plans US$170M in Japan packaging hub to challenge TSMCSamsung to set up chip packaging R&D center in Yokohama, raise stakes vs TSMC[PDF] The Samsung Way(PDF) International Strategy: The Strategy of Samsung Group
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