Dozens of semiconductor startups working on AI efficiency and advanced healthcare have joined a government-backed incubator to turn their research into businesses.
The ChipStart programme, which launched in October 2023 with £1.3m in funding, aims to nurture new chip designers.
Each of the participants joining the incubator will be supported by Silicon Catalyst’s design tools, mentorship and investment networking to turn their research into market-ready products.
This is the programme’s second cohort following a first round that saw researchers-turned-founders secure over £10m in funding from private investors and grants, with nearly £20m in total commitments being finalised.
Among the new participants is POM Health, which is developing a wearable patch for continuous hormone monitoring to enhance fertility treatments.
Another is HeronIC, which has created a software design tool that produces custom chips for AI applications, improving energy efficiency and performance.
Minister for Science Patrick Vallance said: “In addition to the commercial success of the first cohort, the innovations ChipStart is supporting could help to change lives, from developing new fertility treatments to optimising AI and extending the battery life of the devices we use every day.
“We are ensuring that British scientific leadership helps address critical global challenges and drives economic growth,” he added.
Last year’s cohort included Vaire Computing, which raised $4.5m (£3.5m) to develop ultra-energy-efficient chips that could extend smartphone battery life to a month.
“The networking opportunities provided by the ChipStart programme enabled us to execute our vision and helped set our company on a trajectory for long-term success. I strongly believe that expanding the program’s role in the near term would be extremely beneficial for the UK chip industry.”
Another is Wave Photonics, which raised the same amount for its photonic chips, which use light instead of electricity, offering faster and more energy-efficient operations.
The programme will end in March 2025.
