earticle

영어

Sensors combine highly sophisticated technology and micro-fabrication technologies such as integrated semiconductor technologies and MEMS(integrated Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems). They have evolved into ‘Smart sensors’ which are embedded with data processing, automatic calibration, self-diagnostics and decision-making abilities. Smart sensors have attracted great attention, emerging as the core technology of the IT Convergence and the IoT(Internet of Things) era. The world's sensor market is among the fasted growing markets. Nevertheless, the Korean sensor industry is in a vulnerable situation, lacking international competitiveness both in technology and price. This research analyzes and evaluates national competitiveness of the Korean sensor industry using Porter’s Diamond Model. The model focuses on the following four aspects; factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries and firm strategy/structure/rivalry. Given the research context, factor conditions regard patents and technology while demand conditions address markets and consumers. Related and supporting industries concern the nano industry and semiconductor industry. Lastly strategy/structure/rivalry deals with market share and rate of operating profits. The Korean sensor industry’s international competitiveness has been reported as 20.45, and ranks third among the three countries(USA : 100, Japan : 63.07). According the four aspects, in terms of factor conditions, the Korean sensor industry holds relatively abundant equipment, infrastructure and R&D. However the lack of efficient connection and utilization of such factor condition puts it at a competitive disadvantage. Second, in terms of demand conditions, the environment itself if quite favorable for Korean sensor companies. Nonetheless actual consumers prefer to use imported sensors due to lack of reliability and compatibility. Hence, as demand for sensors increase, the greater the trade deficit. Third, in terms of the support industries, the Korean nano industry has fallen behind compared to the number and quality of US or Japanese patents and technologies. The semiconductor industry on the other hand has a quite a high status in the world market, making Korea second in terms of market share. Fanally, in terms of corporate strategy-structure-competition, Korea is stuck in the middle competing with the advanced country’s technologies and the developing country’s cheap prices.