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As we're sure many of you have heard by now, Samsung's second Unpacked Event this year was held on 26th July 2023 in its home country's capital, Seoul, for the very first time. This year, we were honoured to be invited to witness the grand launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Watch6 Series, and Galaxy Tab S9 series in person.
Besides the actual Unpacked Event itself, we were also taken on an illuminating trip to the Samsung Digital City—where most of Samsung's magic happens. Here's what we saw and experienced!
Samsung Digital City Campus
There's only one word for the Samsung Digital City: it is huge. With over 37,000 employees working in more than 130 buildings spread across 1.72 million square meters, the campus is a hive of constant activity, buzzing with the energy of thousands of minds working towards the next big breakthrough.
The Digital City, originally a manufacturing hub for black and white TVs and home appliances, has transformed into Samsung's primary Research & Development Center. It is here that the first curved TV, next-generation networks, and even the first foldable smartphone were conceived and developed. The campus is a testament to Samsung's journey from a small electronics company founded in 1969 to a global leader operating in 74 countries.
According to Samsung, life at Digital City is designed to foster collaboration and innovation while promoting a healthy work environment. The Central Park, spanning over 37,699 sqm, connects all the main R&D centres and the underground parking lot, providing a serene space for employees to rest and relax. With 13 cafeterias, 15 cafes, and plenty of quality-of-life infrastructure, all employees based in the Digital City are well-fed and energized.
Our tour of the R&D buildings, including R3, R4, and R5, was an eye-opening experience. These are the places where some of the industry’s leading technologies are conceived and designed. R3, the IT and Mobile Communications R&D Center focuses on next-gen telecommunication technology. R4, the Digital R&D Center, is where the latest TVs are designed, and R5, the Mobile R&D Center, is where Samsung’s mobile devices like the Galaxy series are developed.
Samsung's commitment to sustainability was evident in its operations at Digital City. The company is pursuing activities that minimize its environmental impact, including using recycled materials in all stages of mobile device and home appliance manufacturing processes by 2025. The Blue Wave Park advanced water treatment facility at Digital City purifies 11k tons of water every day, highlighting Samsung's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM)
A visit to the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM) was a journey through the history of technology. The museum, opened in 2014, is dedicated to reviewing some of the technological breakthroughs that have made the technology we use today possible. With four floors spotlighting four key themes: History of Samsung, Era of Creation, Era of Corporate Innovation, the museum offers a comprehensive look at Samsung's journey and its contributions to the electronics industry.
The museum was opened in 2014 and is dedicated to the history of technology, offering a comprehensive review of the technological breakthroughs that have shaped our present and will continue to shape our future. Spanning an impressive 10,950 square meters, SIM is Korea's largest museum dedicated to the history of the electronics industry.
History of Samsung provides an in-depth look into Samsung's journey from its inception to its current status as a global technology leader. This includes Samsung’s history of industry leadership in appliances, TVs, and smartphones.
Era of Creation explores the technological breakthroughs that have made modern technology possible. This includes the evolution of the semiconductor, display, and mobile industries, which have revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate.
Era of Corporate Innovation focuses on Samsung's contributions to these technological advancements. It showcases how Samsung's innovative spirit and commitment to research and development have led to groundbreaking products and solutions.
Tours of the museum are offered in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish, making it accessible to a global audience. The tours are free and available on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00.
C-Lab
Samsung's culture of open innovation was evident in its C-Lab space, home to a startup incubator program that encourages employees to pursue creative ideas. Established in 2012, C-Lab is an in-house idea incubation program that encourages Samsung employees to explore and create new ideas. The program is designed to foster a startup culture within the company, allowing employees to step away from their regular work responsibilities and focus on their innovative projects.
Since its inception, over 1,600 Samsung employees have participated in C-Lab, supporting over 390 projects. This initiative has led to the creation of numerous innovative solutions, some of which have been transferred to in-house Samsung divisions or spun off into independent companies.
During the trip, we found out that the C-Lab process is divided into five stages:
1. C-Lab Discovery: Firstly, any Samsung employee can submit an idea to the C-Lab Idea Contest, which is held twice a year. 30 to 40 projects are selected each year for further development, and the employees whose projects are selected are given a year off from their primary work responsibilities to focus on their C-Lab project.
2. C-Lab Pit-In Camp: In this stage, selected C-Lab members are trained at the Pit-in Camp. Here, they have the opportunity to recruit other team members to work on their projects.
3. Prototyping: Once the teams are formed, they begin developing minimum viable products (MVPs). This stage is crucial as it allows the teams to test their ideas and make necessary adjustments before moving to the next stage.
4. Validation: After the prototypes are developed, Samsung hosts the C-Lab Fair. This event allows the creators to showcase their projects and receive feedback from other employees. The feedback received is invaluable as it helps the teams refine their projects further.
5. Exit: After one year, C-Lab projects can then be transferred to an in-house Samsung division, spun-off into independent companies, or completed.
Out of the 390 C-Lab projects, 93 have been transferred to in-house divisions at Samsung, and 40 have become spin-off companies, like Mopic, ToonSquare, and Luple. Some of the spin-off companies include This success rate is a testament to the effectiveness of the C-Lab program in fostering innovation within Samsung.
Samsung eX Home
eX Home focuses on three core areas: Home Care & Healthy Living, Enjoyable Life, and Smart Work & Sustainability. These themes collectively explore a wide range of smart home solutions, including home networks and HVAC, energy efficiency, security, and simplified connectivity.
Home Care & Healthy Living focuses on creating a healthy and comfortable living environment. This includes smart HVAC systems that ensure optimal indoor air quality and temperature, as well as smart appliances that make home care tasks more efficient and less time-consuming.
Enjoyable Life is all about enhancing the quality of life through technology. This includes smart entertainment systems that provide immersive audio-visual experiences, as well as smart home devices that automate routine tasks, freeing up more time for leisure and relaxation.
Smart Work & Sustainability explores how technology can facilitate efficient work-from-home setups and promote sustainability. This includes smart office solutions that support productivity and collaboration, as well as energy-efficient devices and systems that minimize environmental impact. One of the key initiatives in this area is the exploration of solar power to achieve a net-zero smart home.
Inspired by a culture of open collaboration, Samsung's open SmartThings ecosystem enables the company to work with groups like the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA) and Matter. These partnerships are crucial in making better, easier, and calmer smart home experiences a reality.
Our visit to Samsung Digital City was an enlightening experience, offering a glimpse into the future of technology. It was a testament to Samsung's commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, and allows us to understand better than ever how innovations like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 came about. Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Seoul with Samsung!