SK hynix poured 6.7 trillion won ($4.4 billion) into research and development (R&D) projects in 2025 amid soaring demand for high bandwidth memory (HBM) products in the wake of the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, data showed Sunday.

The spending hike reflects the Korean chipmaker's aggressive push to maintain its lead in the global artificial intelligence infrastructure market. The investment represents a 35 percent jump from the 4.9 trillion won recorded in 2024, according to the company's regulatory filing posted on the Financial Supervisory Service's system.

The company's increased R&D expenditures came amid record-breaking earnings driven by strong global demand for chips, especially from the AI infrastructure segment.

In 2025, SK hynix posted a record annual operating profit of 47.2 trillion won, beating its rival Samsung Electronics for the first time. The operating profit represents more than a twofold jump from 2024.

Samsung Electronics, meanwhile, spent a record 37.7 trillion won on R&D activities in 2025.

SK hynix is expected to further strengthen its HBM business this year, likely renewing its record-breaking earnings.

In January, industry sources said SK hynix was picked to supply around two-thirds of the HBM4 chips needed for Nvidia's Vera Rubin AI platform, although Samsung Electronics started the world's first commercial shipment of HBM4 last month.

By: DocMemory
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