(SUWON=NEWSIS) Technoprobe, an Italian global semiconductor parts manufacturer, has decided to invest USD 5 million in Gyeonggi Province through cooperating with local companies in Korea.

Vice Governor Kim Hee-kyeum of the province’s second administration, Technoprobe Deputy CEO Marco Prea and Kodi-S CEO Park Chan jung signed a business agreement on May 11.

Technoprobe and Kodi-S will invest USD 5 million to establish a joint venture called Technoprobe Korea. It will be located at the headquarters of Kodi-S in Yongin and produce core parts for semiconductor probes. It will be Technoprobe’s first production facility in the Asian region.

The province explained that the joint venture is the result of Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil’s efforts in Italy last March. At the time, he introduced the executives of Italian companies to the investment environment of the province. Technoprobe, one of the companies that showed interest in the area, has been cooperating with the province to promote joint investment.

The province expects the joint investment to create 150 new jobs.

Established in 1993, Technoprobe has obtained about 100 international patents over the last decade.

Kodi-S has been developing and manufacturing displays and core parts for semiconductor probes since its founding in 1999. Having won the Jang Young Shil Award in 2010 and many other awards, including the Science and Technology Medal, it is a promising Korean venture capital.

"We will do our utmost to encourage more regional small- and medium-sized companies to cooperate with European hidden champions, to promote joint investment,” said Kim.

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