Samsung has set itself ambitious targets for 2013, with the world’s largest handset vendor reportedly aiming to ship around 20 percent more devices this year than in 2012. Meanwhile chairman Lee Kun Hee has urged employees to develop new businesses for the company.

According to a report last week from The Korea Times, the South Korean vendor wants to ship 510 million phones this year, which exceeds the 420 million it projected for 2012. The 2013 increase adds anticipated holiday sales to its existing 288 million total devices sold through September. Around 76 percent, or 390 million, of that 510 million will be smartphones, according to a key Samsung supplier speaking to The Korea Times.

Adding to this bullish growth, Bloomberg today reports that Samsung’s chairman has warned its staff the firm must continue to innovate in new business, as competition increases amid tough global economic conditions. “There’s an ongoing competition by global companies across all areas from products, technology development and hiring talented people to patent disputes,” Lee said, according to a summary of a speech he gave to employees. “The market is big and opportunities are wide open, so we should find out new businesses that Samsung’s future will hinge on.”

Lee didn’t elaborate on potential new growth markets for Asia’s biggest consumer electronics company. In mobile, the firm is expected to widen its software offering; as well as Android, bada and Windows Phone devices, the company is planning on launching smartphones powered by open source OS Tizen (The Yomiuri Shimbun reported over the holidays that Samsung is partnering with NTT Docomo to launch Tizen devices in Japan later this year). Furthermore, Samsung is expected to be the first to ship flexible displays in 2013, ahead of competitors like LG, Sony and Nokia.