According to Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO, Commissioner JUN, Sang Woo), applications related to molecular electronic memory, are increasing rapidly. Molecular electronic memory is 100 times as dense as previous memories.

Electric conductivity of molecules changes with different voltages, and molecular electronic memory saves data using this characteristic. Compared to previous semiconductors, molecular electronic memory is denser, less expensive to manufacture, and saves electricity with low operating voltage. It is expected to become the memory for next generation use.


Molecular electronic memory is forecasted to be in wide-spread practical use by 2015. The technology is led by the United States (at Rice, UCLA, Princeton University, HP Corps) and Germany (at Infinion Co Ltd). In Korea, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology are focusing on its development. The domestic technology level is assessed to be about 50% of leading countries.


The overall market size of molecular electronic memory is expected to be about 800 trillion KRW (827 billion USD) in 2015. With inexpensive cost and high density, it is a promising technology which will contribute to products such as mobile phones, PCs, lightweight spacecraft, and artificial robots