University of Zurich spin-off Synthara is developing novel computer chips in which the computing power is embedded in the memory. This results in a 50-fold increase in computing power and efficiency boosting AI adaption as well as ubiquitous computing. Synthara received the first prize worth CHF 100k. Co-finalists AgroSustain and MUVON Therapeutics each receive CHF 10,000.
Ubiquitous computing and AI are both megatrends pushing current chip technology to its limits. AI-based software is computationally intensive and therefore consumes much energy. And ubiquitous computing relies on chips that are not only energy efficient but also small. Synthara’s chips provides a solution for both challenges.
Synthara’s approach is called in-memory computing, processing power is embedded within the memory itself. From an interface standpoint, Synthara’s offering appears like typical memory; it is thus called ComputeRAM. The Synthara team integrated this ComputeRAM in a compact 2×2 mm chip in a novel type of architecture. They also produced a software development kit that allows users to optimize the entire system for applications such as AI without requiring any low-level understanding of the hardware. This results in a 50-fold increase in computing power and efficiency.
The company will not produce chips itself but has chosen a licensing business model. Synthara’s unique selling point lies in its ability to deliver in-memory computing in a non-disruptive manner. Chip manufacturers utilizing Synthara’s semiconductor intellectual property (semi-IP) can seamlessly integrate it without altering their existing infrastructur
A first sample of around 50 chips featuring this innovative design is being produced by a chip manufacturer in Germany and will be available by mid-2023. Synthara already collaborates with several well-known partners including Bosch. The company aims to sell the first products in the next 12 months.
Synthara was financed with a number of grants (Bridge, Innosuisse, Horizon 2020, Swiss Accelerator, Innosuisse) plus investments. Investors in the seed round included High-Tech Gründerfonds and Zürcher Kantonalbank. The company closed an extension to the seed round in 2022.
The eight-member jury was particularly impressed by Synthara’s combination of social relevance and creative idea. Beside the disruptive character of the innovation, the technology has the potential to improve efficiency and computing power in many devices. In addition, the chips will help return control over data back into the hands of users.
The founders and their team accepted the CHF 100,000 check from the hands of Dr. Jörg Müller-Ganz, Chairman of the Bank Council of Zürcher Kantonalbank, the award’s sponsor. Manu V Nair, CEO and co-founder of Synthara, says, “We want people to follow us and understand what we are doing, why we are doing it and why it is so important and valuable. Winning the ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark gives us an excellent platform to bring this message to the world.”
The company was founded in 2020 by Manu V Nair and Alessandro Aimar. They first met in January 2016 when they both started their PhD studies at ETH Zurich on the same day. When they started working at the Institute of Neuroinformatics in Zurich, they had both independently become motivated to work on AI and efficient computing. Hence a strong friendship commenced. Soon they envisioned creating a company dedicated to cutting-edge chip design. To acquire the necessary qualifications, both embarked on their PhD journeys at ETH Zurich and University of Zurich.
(Press release / SK)
Please login or sign up to comment.
Commenting guidelines