A £1.1 million Innovate UK project has been awarded to a consortium led by Quinas, a Lancaster University spinout firm, in collaboration with global semiconductor company IQE and Lancaster and Cardiff Universities. The ambitious project aims to industrialize ULTRARAM, a universal computer memory invented by Professor Manus Hayne of Lancaster University.
ULTRARAM combines the non-volatility of data storage memories like flash with the speed, energy-efficiency, and endurance of working memories like DRAM. IQE will scale up the manufacture of compound semiconductor layers from Lancaster University to an industrial process at their Cardiff-based facility. The project has significant implications for the UK’s stake in the global memory chip market, estimated to be worth $320 billion by 2030. Professor Hayne and Jessica Wenmouth, Head of Research Commercialisation at Lancaster University, are key figures involved in this groundbreaking research.
Industrializing ULTRARAM: A Universal Computer Memory with Extraordinary Properties
ULTRARAM, a novel computer memory technology invented by Professor Manus Hayne at Lancaster University, has taken a significant step towards industrialization with a £1.1M Innovate UK project award. The ambitious project brings together Quinas, a Lancaster University spinout firm, global semiconductor company IQE, and Lancaster and Cardiff Universities to enable the volume production of ULTRARAM.
ULTRARAM combines the non-volatility of data storage memory, like flash, with the speed, energy-efficiency, and endurance of working memory, like DRAM. This unique combination of properties makes it an attractive solution for various computing applications. The project aims to scale up the manufacture of compound semiconductor layers from Lancaster University to an industrial process at IQE’s Cardiff-based facility.
Scaling Up ULTRARAM Production
The majority of the funding will be spent at IQE, where advanced capabilities for growing compound semiconductors gallium antimonide and aluminium antimonide will be developed. This involves transitioning from molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), typically used in university settings, to metal-organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) or metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD), a mainstream production technique.
Lancaster University will play a crucial role in characterizing the antimonide material grown at IQE and fabricating ULTRARAM memory on small areas of the wafers. In parallel, Lancaster will continue to work on scaling down individual devices and increasing array sizes, following Moore’s law. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate fabrication on a complete 8″ wafer and translate the process to an industrial one suitable for a semiconductor foundry.
Economic Opportunities and Environmental Benefits
The global memory chip market is projected to be worth approximately US$320 billion by 2030, with the UK currently having no stake in it. ULTRARAM represents a significant economic opportunity for the UK, with potential energy savings and carbon emission reductions. Professor Hayne emphasized that “ULTRARAM could bring huge energy savings and carbon emission reduction” through its efficient computing capabilities.
Collaboration and Innovation
The project exemplifies effective collaboration between academia, industry, and government, demonstrating the strategic utilization of grant funding alongside private equity investment. Jessica Wenmouth, Lancaster University’s Head of Research Commercialisation, highlighted that such collaborations are crucial for bringing new products to market and driving significant investment into the UK for emerging technologies.
Quantum Resonant Tunnelling: The Science Behind ULTRARAM
ULTRARAM exploits quantum resonant tunnelling to achieve its extraordinary properties. This is implemented in compound semiconductors, commonly used in photonic devices such as LEDs, laser diodes, and infrared detectors, but not in digital electronics, which relies on silicon. The unique properties of ULTRARAM make it an attractive solution for various computing applications, with potential far-reaching implications for the industry.
In conclusion, the industrialization of ULTRARAM has taken a significant step forward with this £1.1M Innovate UK project award. The collaboration between Quinas, IQE, and Lancaster and Cardiff Universities will pave the way for volume production of this novel computer memory technology, with potential economic opportunities and environmental benefits for the UK.
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