BritChips podcast: Cool Hand Rob - The Kelvin Quantum Story
Quantum computers like it cold. Very cold indeed. We're talking about temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15°C)However, off-the-shelf electronics subsystems that connect them to the outside world do not like it anywhere near as cold. Typically, about -40°C is as cool as they go.Which means that the electronics have to sit outside the cryogenic environment, connected to the quantum computer with hundreds, if not thousands, of wires depending on the size of the computer.The problem is, these wires carry heat which is detrimental to the cryogenic environment.Belfast-born Robert Graham leads the team at University of Glasgow spinout, Kelvin Quantum, which designs ultra-low temperature interface systems that sit in the same cryogenic environment as a quantum computer and connect directly to the outside world with just four wires.Kelvin Quantum is one of the start-ups selected for the third cohort of the Government-sponsored ChipStartUK programme, managed by incubator Silicon Catalyst.UK.In this podcast, Robert explains how he was invited to lead the quantum computing project at the University of Glasgow and manage the spin-out process to a successful conclusion.Robert describes the challenges the team faced in modelling and testing their designs in the absence of tool kits suitable for cryogenic semiconductor systems, and the many potential use cases beyond quantum computing.There's so much to learn from Robert's efforts to commercialise leading-edge technology designed to be used in the most unforgiving of environments. So get listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com
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BritChips podcast: EnSilica - Brazil by Design
If anyone should be known as the godfather of the Brazilian semiconductor industry, my vote would go to Brazil-born tech industry veteran Julio Leão da Silva Jr (or simply, Julio Leão). But he would be too modest to accept.Julio is Director of Engineering - Design Services BU & Brazil Design Centre Director at Abingdon-based, AIM-listed 'fabless' semiconductor design and supply start-up (and now scale-up) EnSilica. Basically, he founded and now runs EnSilica's operations in Brazil.How that came to pass is as much a story about the on-again, off-again, and now on-again development of the Brazilian semiconductor industry (yes, it does exist!) as it is about a shrewd move (and a modicum of serendipity) by EnSilica cofounder and CEO, Ian Lankshear, who grabbed the opportunity to hire Julio and his colleagues when political winds in Brazil forced the closure of the country's former state-owned semiconductor company, CEITEC.In this BritChips podcast, Julio explains how, armed only with a 15-slide pitch deck, he led the mission to find new careers for the 35 semiconductor engineers about to lose their jobs at CEITEC, and why the timing was so propitious for EnSilica.Who knows, perhaps this will prompt other UK semiconductor start-ups to consider opening design centres in Brazil.But first they'd need to find themselves a godfather! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com
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BritChips podcast: Chipletti's Big Stack
How do you squeeze a quart into a pint pot?This is one of the fundamental problems facing semiconductor designers when trying to squeeze more circuits onto a chip.It's a particular challenge for processor chip designers because they need to locate high-speed cache memory circuits very close to the logic circuits.And the more powerful and faster the processor, the more cache you need. So space on the chip can really become a problem.Catriona Wright and Kauser Johar are the founders of Chipletti, one of the UK semiconductor startups selected for the third cohort of the Government-sponsored ChipStartUK programme, managed by incubator Silicon Catalyst.UK.Chipletti is developing a new way to stack memory chips on top of core logic chips, with the potential to improve performance without increasing chip area or power consumption.In this BritChips podcast, Catriona and Kauser explain why they left great jobs at a high profile UK quantum computing startup to build their own semiconductor business from square one.And it's not just about the technology. You'll also hear about the challenges involved in filing patents to protect their IP, and how they sought funding from angel investors to help launch the startup.There's much here for anyone in the semiconductor startup scene to learn from Catriona’s and Kauser’s hard graft. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com
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BritChips podcast: Microchips, bacteria and the price of fish
How can you tell if the seemingly crystal-clear waters of a fish farm are not hiding traces of chemicals that could harm marine life?University of Edinburgh spinout, Kāhu SiliconBio, is developing biosensor technology capable of detecting and measuring trace chemicals in liquids in real time and at point of use.The technology is a unique melding of biotech and electronics, which can ‘eavesdrop’ on the metabolic processes of live bacteria, and reengineer them to respond to different chemicals.New Zealand-born Dr James Flewellen leads Kāhu SiliconBio, one of the UK semiconductor startups selected for the third cohort of the Government-sponsored ChipStartUK programme, managed by incubator Silicon Catalyst.UK.In this podcast, James describes how he got involved with the project he now leads, with the aim of commercialising the technology to make it as easy to use as a digital thermometer.Indeed, while Kahu SiliconBio’s initial focus is on the aquaculture industry, the technology could equally be applied to the healthcare sector, detecting specific chemicals in liquids such as saliva and blood, instantly and on the spot.So it’s not just about the price of fish! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com
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BritChips podcast: From PowerPoint to Prototype
“What we tell our startups is they need to start fast and stay fast – time is not their friend.”This is the sage advice that Sean Redmond gives to founders and entrepreneurs that have been selected to participate in the Silicon Catalyst.UK accelerator and the ChipStartUK incubator.Redmond is managing partner at Silicon Catalyst.UK, the UK arm of the eponymous US-based semiconductor incubator and accelerator, whose mission statement, ‘We accelerate semiconductor startups from PowerPoint to Prototype’ does precisely what it says on the tin.Redmond has a rich history in the semiconductor industry. He’s undertaken executive roles in several semiconductor hardware and software companies as well as founding and leading his own test automation tool startup.Redmond was approached by the Silicon Catalyst US team in 2021 to launch the incubator in the UK. In that role he was instrumental in advising the UK government on its flagship semiconductor strategy, launched in 2023, for which the first initiative was to launch an early-stage UK semiconductor incubator, called ChipStartUK, which Silicon Catakyst.UK manages.ChipStartUK has been an astounding success. The twenty or so UK semiconductor startups that have graduated from the first two cohorts have already raised over $30m in venture capital and angel funding as a result of the initiative.Redmond recently kicked off the third ChipStartUK cohort in what is now a 12-month programme. and the UK government has given approval – and funding – for at least a further three cohorts.Today Redmond is one of the most influential people in the UK semiconductor startup scene with his boundless support of founders and entrepreneurs looking for a chance to launch their technology onto the world stage.So if you are involved in a UK semiconductor-related startup – or aspire to become involved – whether as entrepreneur, investor, or partner, or if you simply care about the future of the UK semiconductor industry, then you must listen to this extended edition of the BritChips podcast with Sean Redmond as my guest. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anttheantidote.substack.com
Conversations between award-winning tech industry analyst Anthony Miller and movers and shakers in the UK semiconductor start-up scene. anttheantidote.substack.com
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