V2X technology startup Etiforce (CEO Ho-Jun Kim) is looking for 5G-V2X demand companies and starting full-scale development of a 5G-V2X modem chipset that suits the demand.

Etiphos announced on the 12th that it had been selected as a target for support for 'COMPASS', a prototype production support project through collaboration between system semiconductor demand and supply companies and Unitrontec (CEO Namgung Seon), a leading company in automotive semiconductor solutions and mobility.

The COMPASS project, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is a demand-linked prototype manufacturing support project led by the Korea Semiconductor Research Association. It matches demand and supply companies in the system semiconductor field through an online platform and supports the project expenses required for prototype development for commercialization.

Through this business, Etiforce will develop a 5G-V2X modem chipset, and Unitrontec, as a demand company, will develop a system-on-module (SOM) based on Etiforce's modem chipset.

Unitrontech Managing Director Seung-il Kim, who participated as a demand company, said, “We are pleased to be collaborating with domestic V2X startup Etiforce in the automotive semiconductor field, which is highly dependent on foreign semiconductors,” and “We hope to combine Unitrontech’s semiconductor business capabilities with Etiforce’s technology to contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of domestic V2X communication modules.”

Etiforce CEO Ho-Jun Kim, who participated as a development company, said, “In a situation where the Korean telecommunication modem chipset ecosystem has been greatly weakened,“We are honored that Etiphos’ technological prowess has been recognized through the challenging COMPASS business selection process,” he said. “Many fabless startups have difficulties finding buyers even after developing chipsets, so we are delighted to be developing a V2X communication module with Unitrontec, a leading automotive semiconductor solution company.”

Unitrontec and Etifos plan to actively promote the supply of V2X communication modules for vehicles by targeting OEM automakers using the 5G-V2X modem chipset and modules to be manufactured in 2025 through the COMPASS project.