Samsung Group plans to invest KRW7.5 trillion (US$6.5 billion) in smartphone and tablet chip technology in 2012 as part of a KRW47.8 trillion investment into the company, reports Reuters. The investment in mobile chips – which includes sensors and processors found in mobile devices – will be KRW1 trillion higher than that spent on memory chips, the first time mobile processors have received greater investment.  

Samsung is known for making significant investments into technologies ahead of rivals, which has translated into success with flash chips, computer memory chips and LCD flat-screens. The announced investment will also include KRW7 trillion in OLED display technology.

As well as investment in manufacturing facilities, R&D and mergers and acquisitions, Samsung will also invest in new staff.  The company said it will recruit 26,000 new employees in 2012, slightly up from the 25,000 arrivals in 2011. Samsung currently employs a total of 350,000 people.

As well as its own mobile devices, Samsung makes mobile processors for Apple’s iPad and iPhone. The company plans to expand production of these processors at its factory in Austin, Texas by issuing its first overseas bonds since 1997, reports Bloomberg. A Samsung spokesman said the company has sent requests for proposals to banks to borrow as much as US$1 billion to fund the plan.

Samsung recently said it was on track to report its most profitable quarter ever with the company’s smartphones driving sales in 2011's fourth quarter of KRW47 trillion, generating preliminary operating profit of KRW5.2 trillion.