In order to maintain its lead in chip technology, Samsung Electronics announced on Friday that development has begun at a new semiconductor research and development (R&D) center in South Korea. By 2028, the company plans to invest about KRW 20 trillion (roughly $15 billion) there.

The new facility at Giheung, south of Seoul, will enable advanced research on next-generation devices and processes for memory and system chips, as well as the development of new technology based on a long-term roadmap, according to the world’s largest memory chip maker and second-largest chip contract manufacturer.

“Samsung Electronics is seeking to overcome the limits of semiconductor scaling,” it said in a statement.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by newly-pardoned Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee and top executives.

“We need to continue our tradition of investing pre-emptively and emphasizing technology,” Lee said during the ceremony.

Later, Lee spoke with workers from the chip industry and separately with executives to discuss how to secure technology to increase semiconductor leadership, according to Samsung.