I’m at that stage of my BrainChip investment where I’m already crying happy tears and popping champagne on credit… because everything’s looking pretty damn grey right now.
Wohooo go Brainchip something is happening behind closed doors
BRN Discussion Ongoing
- Thread starter TechGirl
- Start date
Looks like the RTX/USAF radar project has spawned a real winner - see-in-the-dark robots are just one application. The micro-Doppler radar project surprised RTX, USAF, and BRN. The initial model for this would have used RTX radar data, but apparently it can be applied to any suitable radar signal/model. The micro-Doppler probably also provides much more precise Time-of-Flight (ToF) 3D outlines. No wonder Sean was excited. Can't wait for the patent.
Another revolutionary development is the "universal" model conversion tool for TENNs. This expands Akida's applicability in temporal applications.
The world is Akida's oyster!
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How did you miss this one Manny ?
Steve’s mate from Qualcomm started a new business , Aynak Inc .
10 months ago ,
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Food4 thought
Regular
love your work
lets get ready to enjoy the future or is it here already
smoothsailing18
Regular
Response from IR regarding Megachip IP agreement. This response suggested maybe their looking at the next version rather than a renewal of the original, 
IMO. All a guess tho.
Hi,
Thank you for your email.
BrainChip continue to monitor our ASX continuous disclosure obligations which are taken extremely seriously at a board and company level.
We note that the agreements you reference relate to the company's first-generation IP.
If we do decide to renew any material agreements, that decision would be made public via the ASX platform at the appropriate time, and in compliance with ASX continuous disclosure rules.
Best regards
BrainChip
IMO. All a guess tho.Hi,
Thank you for your email.
BrainChip continue to monitor our ASX continuous disclosure obligations which are taken extremely seriously at a board and company level.
We note that the agreements you reference relate to the company's first-generation IP.
If we do decide to renew any material agreements, that decision would be made public via the ASX platform at the appropriate time, and in compliance with ASX continuous disclosure rules.
Best regards
BrainChip
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CHIPS
Regular
Does anyone know this (new) company? https://unconv.ai/introducing-unconventional-ai/
What do you think about it?
....
To help us achieve this goal, we have raised $475 million in seed funding and the company is valued at $4.5 billion. The round was led by Lightspeed and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Sequoia, Lux Capital, DCVC, Future Ventures, Jeff Bezos, and many other amazing investing partners. Naveen Rao, cofounder and CEO, will personally be investing $10 million alongside others.
maresmedia.se
The AI chip market is about to get a new game-changer: Naveen Rao, multi-billionaire exit entrepreneur and AI visionary, is launching Unconventional Inc., aiming for a direct challenge to Nvidia. With planned funding of $1 billion and a valuation of $5 billion, this startup could revolutionize how we design AI hardware. The company is backed by heavyweights like Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed, and Lux Capital – a clear indication that something groundbreaking is in the making.
With his latest venture, Rao returns to his roots: AI hardware. But this time with an even more ambitious vision. "It's a big leap... we're rethinking the foundations of a computer to create a new substrate for intelligence that's as efficient as biology," Rao announced at the launch of Unconventional in September 2025.
His expertise in neuroscience and computer architecture forms the perfect basis for his new goal: "Brain Scale Efficiency without the biological baggage!" – an efficiency like the human brain, but without its biological limitations.
The focus on “biological efficiency” points to memory-centric, parsifting, or even neuromorphic approaches—technologies that could drastically reduce energy consumption per operation. This is particularly relevant because memory movements now account for the largest share of the power budget in large-scale AI inference.
This efficiency gain could be exactly the leverage Unconventional needs to prevail against Nvidia's established ecosystem. Because despite Nvidia's impressive 78% gross margin, there is a growing need for more energy-efficient solutions for AI workloads.
With hundreds of billions in collective capital pledged by hyperscalers and AI companies, the question is not whether there is demand, but whether Unconventional can translate its biologically inspired vision into scalable, enterprise-ready technology.
The biggest challenge will be overcoming Nvidia's established software ecosystem with CUDA and cuDNN. However, if Unconventional can combine a truly differentiated architecture with a pragmatic software strategy, it could quickly make it onto the shortlist of credible Nvidia alternatives.
For tech investors and AI companies, Unconventional is definitely a company to keep an eye on. Whether Rao will land his third billion-dollar exit remains to be seen – but his vision of biologically inspired AI hardware could be exactly the breakthrough the industry needs for the next wave of AI.
What do you think about it?
....
To help us achieve this goal, we have raised $475 million in seed funding and the company is valued at $4.5 billion. The round was led by Lightspeed and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Sequoia, Lux Capital, DCVC, Future Ventures, Jeff Bezos, and many other amazing investing partners. Naveen Rao, cofounder and CEO, will personally be investing $10 million alongside others.
KI-Pionier Naveen Rao startet Unconventional: Das Milliarden-Star
Der KI-Chip-Markt bekommt einen neuen Game-Changer: Naveen Rao, mehrfacher Exit-Milliardär und KI-Visionär, startet mit Unconventional Inc. einen direkten Angri
AI pioneer Naveen Rao launches Unconventional: The billion-dollar startup that challenges Nvidia
The AI chip market is about to get a new game-changer: Naveen Rao, multi-billionaire exit entrepreneur and AI visionary, is launching Unconventional Inc., aiming for a direct challenge to Nvidia. With planned funding of $1 billion and a valuation of $5 billion, this startup could revolutionize how we design AI hardware. The company is backed by heavyweights like Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed, and Lux Capital – a clear indication that something groundbreaking is in the making.
The serial entrepreneur with the Midas touch
Naveen Rao's track record is impressive. As the founder of Nervana Systems, he achieved his first major exit in 2016 when Intel acquired the company for over $400 million. After serving as Intel's head of AI, he founded MosaicML in 2020, an AI model training startup, which he sold to Databricks just three years later for $1.3 billion.With his latest venture, Rao returns to his roots: AI hardware. But this time with an even more ambitious vision. "It's a big leap... we're rethinking the foundations of a computer to create a new substrate for intelligence that's as efficient as biology," Rao announced at the launch of Unconventional in September 2025.
His expertise in neuroscience and computer architecture forms the perfect basis for his new goal: "Brain Scale Efficiency without the biological baggage!" – an efficiency like the human brain, but without its biological limitations.
A $5 billion startup straight from the cradle
What sets Unconventional apart from other startups is its unprecedented funding structure. Rao has already raised hundreds of millions of dollars and plans to secure the remaining billion in tranches—an unusual but strategically astute approach that allows him to begin building immediately. This funding strategy reflects investors' immense confidence in Rao's vision and gives the company the firepower it needs to compete with industry giants like Nvidia.The biologically inspired revolution against Nvidia's dominance
In a market dominated by Nvidia with an estimated 70-95% share, Unconventional is taking a completely new approach. Instead of aiming for only marginal improvements to existing architectures, the startup is developing both custom silicon chips and the associated server infrastructure.The focus on “biological efficiency” points to memory-centric, parsifting, or even neuromorphic approaches—technologies that could drastically reduce energy consumption per operation. This is particularly relevant because memory movements now account for the largest share of the power budget in large-scale AI inference.
This efficiency gain could be exactly the leverage Unconventional needs to prevail against Nvidia's established ecosystem. Because despite Nvidia's impressive 78% gross margin, there is a growing need for more energy-efficient solutions for AI workloads.
Market opportunities in the multi-hundred-billion-dollar segment
The global AI chip market is expected to reach $40.79 billion in 2025 and, according to analysts, could grow to several hundred billion dollars annually by the end of the decade. This explosion in demand creates space for several winners – if they can properly align supply, ecosystem, and customer base.With hundreds of billions in collective capital pledged by hyperscalers and AI companies, the question is not whether there is demand, but whether Unconventional can translate its biologically inspired vision into scalable, enterprise-ready technology.
The road to success: Why Unconventional could win
While many AI chip startups struggle to get beyond pilot projects, Unconventional brings crucial advantages: Rao's track record, his technical know-how, and a network of top investors who have already supported his previous successes.The biggest challenge will be overcoming Nvidia's established software ecosystem with CUDA and cuDNN. However, if Unconventional can combine a truly differentiated architecture with a pragmatic software strategy, it could quickly make it onto the shortlist of credible Nvidia alternatives.
The chip race has only just begun.
Unconventional is more than just another hardware startup – it represents a fundamental paradigm shift in AI chip architecture. With a valuation of $5 billion even before actual product development, the company is setting new standards for AI hardware startups.For tech investors and AI companies, Unconventional is definitely a company to keep an eye on. Whether Rao will land his third billion-dollar exit remains to be seen – but his vision of biologically inspired AI hardware could be exactly the breakthrough the industry needs for the next wave of AI.
Jacob Kiraz
Regular
What position would that be
FabricatedLunacy
Regular
So Megachips out then...Response from IR regarding Megachip IP agreement. This response suggested maybe their looking at the next version rather than a renewal of the original,
Hi,
Thank you for your email.
BrainChip continue to monitor our ASX continuous disclosure obligations which are taken extremely seriously at a board and company level.
We note that the agreements you reference relate to the company's first-generation IP.
If we do decide to renew any material agreements, that decision would be made public via the ASX platform at the appropriate time, and in compliance with ASX continuous disclosure rules.
Best regards
BrainChip
Boab
I wish I could paint like Vincent
I have no debt.
Makes it hard to sing the Banana Boat song ...
Boab
I wish I could paint like Vincent
I am still working but not as hard as those poor buggers.
Something I’ve always found very odd is that the job openings listed on the BrainChip website tend to differ from those listed by our company on LinkedIn. Why not post all open positions in both places?
There are currently two job openings listed on the BrainChip website, one of which has been up for ages, namely that for “Sales Director US/Bay Area”, which I first spotted almost a year ago, back in early January. (https://thestockexchange.com.au/threads/brn-discussion-ongoing.1/post-445809).
It has since been reposted several times. However, it appears no suitable candidate has yet been found.
View attachment 93736
A similar job ad was recently posted on LinkedIn, but this time round it was an opening for a “US Sales Manager” in Washington, DC.
Turns out, though, the description is more or less just a copy & paste from the “Sales Director US/Bay Area” job ad, with two marked differences:
“This position must be located on the East Coast.”
“Expectation to complete at least two contract/deal within your first year of employment.” (Note that for the “Sales Director US/Bay Area” position it was merely one - whoever did the copy & paste and then made the changes evidently forgot to put “contract/deal” into the plural!)
The job description itself refers to the position being that of a “Sales Manager/Director”, adding “This position is a pivotal member of the sales team, reporting directly to the VP of Global Sales”. That phrase was actually taken verbatim from the “Sales Director US/Bay Area job ad”. Weirdly, it even says under “Market Expansion”: “Develop and implement strategic sales plans to achieve sales targets and expand BrainChip's IP adoption in the US/Bay Area market.”
So is it just sloppy proofreading once again or is this new East Coast-based position actually meant to be a replacement for the yet-to-be-filled role of “Sales Director US/Bay Area” (presently still listed as open on the BrainChip website) rather than an additional sales position lower in hierarchy?
Which in turn would beg the question: Why the sudden shift of focus from Silicon Valley to Washington, DC? Is it the geographical closeness to the seat of the US Government and/or to defense or civilian government contractors in the Beltway (ie Virginia and Maryland) that is so enticing?
Or has our management team made out a new market opportunity represented by specific (other) industries/companies located (primarily) on the East Coast?
Some readers might readily associate “East Coast” and “company” with Boston Dynamics, but as I’ve mentioned before, Boston Dynamics have their own Robotics and AI Institute (https://rai-inst.com), with plenty of AI experts in their two offices in Cambridge, MA and Zurich, Switzerland. They would know how to reach out for assistance if needed.
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BrainChip
US Sales Manager
Washington, DC · Reposted 1 week ago · Over 100 applicants
Promoted by hirer · Actively reviewing applicants
$100K/yr - $175K/yr + Stock, Commission
Remote
Full-time
About the job
The Sales Manager/Director will spearhead the sales initiatives of BrainChip Inc. in the US, focusing on expanding market share, fostering customer relationships, and driving revenue growth. This position is a pivotal member of the sales team, reporting directly to the VP of Business Dev/Sales.
This position must be located on the East Coast.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Market Expansion: Develop and implement strategic sales plans to achieve sales targets and expand BrainChip's IP adoption in the US/Bay Area market.
- Customer Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key SOC customers, understanding their needs and providing tailored IP solutions.
- Sales Strategy Execution: Drive the execution of sales strategies and initiatives to maximize IP contract revenue and market penetration.
- Lead Generation and Conversion: Identify new business opportunities and manage the entire sales process from lead generation to closing deals.
- Sales Forecasting and Reporting: Provide accurate sales forecasts and reports, analyzing sales data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Collaboration: Work closely with the marketing, product development, and customer support teams to ensure a cohesive approach to market needs and customer satisfaction.
- Product Knowledge: Maintain a deep understanding of BrainChip's product portfolio and technological advancements to effectively communicate value propositions to customers.
- Competitive Analysis: Monitor and analyze market trends and competitors' activities to adjust strategies accordingly.
- Travel: Domestic travel as required to meet with customers, attend industry events, and participate in training sessions.
- Expectation to complete at least two contract/deal within your first year of employment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively and professionally. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education/Experience:
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in sales within the semiconductor or technology industry, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets.
- Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with AI technologies and semiconductor ecosystems is highly desirable.
- Customer Management: Demonstrated ability to manage customer relationships and sales processes effectively.
Other Skills and Abilities:
- Relationship Building: Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with customers and internal teams.
- Sales Acumen: Strong analytical skills to identify market trends, forecast sales, and develop strategic plans.
- Intellectual Property (IP) Sales Process: prior experience managing the sale of IP Licenses, Contracts and Royalty arrangements.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present effectively to diverse audiences.
- Project Management: Experience in managing complex sales projects and coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
- Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving abilities with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
- Multitasking: Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Employer-provided
Pay range in Washington, DC
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Base salary
$100,000/yr - $175,000/yr
Additional compensation types
Stock, Commission
Also, earlier today, another East Coast-based job got advertised: that of a Field Application Engineer in the Greater Boston Area:
#hiring | BrainChip
We're #hiring a new Field Application Engineer in Greater Boston. Apply today or share this post with your network.
View attachment 93740
BrainChip hiring Field Application Engineer in Greater Boston | LinkedIn
Posted 12:41:56 AM. *This position is a remote position. This person must be located on the East Coast. The Field…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
BrainChip
Field Application Engineer
Greater Boston · 10 hours ago · 11 applicants
Promoted by hirer · Company review time is typically 1 week
$100K/yr - $160K/yr + Bonus, Stock
About the job
*This position is a remote position. This person must be located on the East Coast.
The Field Applications Engineer will be the primary technical interface between BrainChip Sales and Engineering Members and to support current and future customers. This role will be responsible for post-sales evaluations, system design and integrations, and customer troubleshooting. In addition, the Field Applications Engineer will provide end-user facing documentation in the form of application notes, tutorials, and trainings. You must be able to communicate effectively at the engineering level with customers, understand their objectives and needs to develop and articulate solutions to address customers’ requirements.
*Please note: We are not engaging with external recruiting agencies for this role at this time.
About the Role
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work with Sales and Engineering members, to support customers and help develop technical solutions for Brainchip’s Akida Neuromorphic System-on-Chip (NSoC).
- Understand customer’s technical requirements & propose solutions and manage projects related to customer activity resolve any customer challenges.
- Be the customer’s trusted advisor and main interface between Customers and BrainChip.
- Ability to understand and present complex technical requirements, problems, and solutions concisely in verbal and written communications.
- Know and understand ASIC and Systems development process and experience Schematics and CAD drawings.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
- Five to ten years of technical pre-sales and / or customer support experience.
- Strong experience with API programming, scripting languages, Linux, Windows Server, and PC/Server drivers.
- Experience with Video Management System (VMS), Video Analytics, APIs from Milestone, Genentec, OnSSI, or others.
- Understanding of Video Codec Technology (VLC, Intel Quick Sync Video).
- Strong experience in at least one application field CPUs, Tools and methodologies and/or machine learning.
- Broad understanding of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, CNN, and Neuromorphic Computing.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills and analytical skills.
- Desire to be involved in a diverse and creative work environment.
- Must be a self-starter with mindset for growth and real passion for continuous learning.
Preferred Skills
- Software QA/Debug experience.
- Board design and development.
- FPGA experience.
- Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Network Programming.
At BrainChip, we hire based on potential, performance, and alignment with our mission to shape the future of intelligent edge computing. We are committed to providing a fair and respectful workplace where individuals are evaluated on their qualifications and contributions. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.
We value the diverse perspectives and experiences that help drive innovation in neuromorphic AI and welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our passion for advancing technology that matters.
Employer-provided
Pay range in Greater Boston
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Base salary
$100,000/yr - $160,000/yr
Additional compensation types
Bonus, Stock
Another recent addition is the job opening for “Director of Software Engineering” (“This is a hybrid role, in our Laguna Hills, CA office 2x-3x a week.”), with references to Akida 3.
“We are seeking a seasoned Principal Software Architect with 7+ years of deep systems software experience to own the full developer platform for our 3rd-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU).”
BrainChip hiring Senior Software Architect in Laguna Hills, CA | LinkedIn
Posted 12:42:10 AM. *We are not accepting outside agencies at this time* BrainChip is pioneering neuromorphic edge AI…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
BrainChip
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4341105585/?alternateChannel=search&eBP=NOT_ELIGIBLE_FOR_CHARGING&refId=2TxkwqNA2JUFjT3ZIPm0Kw==&trackingId=/qMfRMNw7yOuGwhThqqZkw==&trk=d_flagship3_search_srp_jobs
Director of Software Engineering
Laguna Hills, CA · Reposted 16 hours ago · 85 applicants
Promoted by hirer · Actively reviewing applicants
$100K/yr - $225K/yr + Bonus, Stock
Hybrid
Full-time
About the job
*We are not accepting outside agencies at this time*
BrainChip is pioneering neuromorphic edge AI processors that deliver ultra-low-power intelligence at the point of data creation. We are seeking a seasoned Principal Software Architect with 7+ years of deep systems software experience to own the full developer platform for our 3rd-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU).
Reporting directly to the CTO and partnering closely with our internal compiler lead, you will architect, integrate, and deliver a production-grade software ecosystem—including a VS Code-based IDE with embedded LLM assistance, system-level profiling, target-side bootloader, RTOS integration, and advanced debugging—all built atop mature open-source foundations and our in-house compiler.
Your mission: assemble together a seamless, best-in-class developer experience that hides complexity and accelerates adoption of BrainChip’s unique neuromorphic hardware.
This is a hybrid role, in our Laguna Hills, CA office 2x-3x a week.
Key Responsibilities
1.Developer Platform Architecture & Integration
- Own end-to-end integration of our internal compiler into a unified toolchain with runtime, IDE, debugger, profiler, and deployment pipeline.
2.VS Code IDE with LLM-Powered Developer Assistance
3. System-Level Profiling & Performance Observability
4. Target-Side Bootloader & RTOS Integration
- Architect a secure, minimal target bootloader supporting:
5. Debugging & Hardware-in-the-Loop Workflow
- Extend GDB/LLDB with NPU-specific commands for cycle-accurate stepping, event tracing, and state inspection (membranes, synapses, queues).
- Support JTAG, SWD, and OTA debug with non-intrusive hardware tracing.
6. Hardware-Software Co-Design Feedback Loop
- Work hand-in-hand with the CTO and silicon team to expose hardware capabilities via software abstractions.
- Use profiling and simulation data to influence microarchitecture (e.g., memory tiling, sparsity engines, event routing).
Qualifications
- Education: BS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
Experience:
– IDE & Tooling: VS Code Extension API, LSP, DAP, TypeScript, WebAssembly UI.
- 7+ years in systems software; 3+ years integrating and productizing complex toolchains (compilers, IDEs, debuggers, profilers).
- Proven success shipping VS Code extensions or full developer platforms used by external teams desired.
- Deep experience with open-source integration and upstream contribution workflows.
- Technical Expertise in many of the following:
– Debug & Profiling: GDB/LLDB extensions, OpenOCD, eBPF, perf, hardware trace
(ETM/HTM).
– RTOS & Embedded: Zephyr/FreeRTOS, device trees, linker scripts, bare-metal bring-up.
– Build & Packaging: CMake, Ninja, Yocto, Debian packaging, CI/CD.
– Languages: Expert in C/C++, Rust; strong in Python, TypeScript.
– Compiler Integration: LLVM/MLIR tooling, plugin architecture, pass management
- Domain Fit: Experience with edge AI, neuromorphic, or ultra-low-power SoCs strongly preferred and/or intense curiosity and interest.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Upstream contributions to VS Code, LLVM, Zephyr, OpenOCD, or other large opensource projects.
- Experience with LLM integration in IDEs (Copilot, CodeLlama, custom fine-tuned models).
- Secure boot and firmware update systems in production devices.
- Patents or publications in developer tools, profiling, or edge AI deployment.
- Strong Background in robotics and embedded system
Employer-provided
Pay range in Laguna Hills, CA
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Base salary
$100,000/yr - $225,000/yr
Additional compensation types
Bonus, Stock
Nice, the recent Cap. Raise funds are being dispersed as I post, being a retired Golf Professional who never made the big time, let alone 6 foot putts under tournament pressure, I think that I'll take a raincheck with regards to applying for the recent new opportunities at Brainchip
With Christmas a week away I personally want to wish all shareholders a very happy festive season and thank all the posters throughout the year who tried their best to keep things balanced and respectful, I love the humour and the selfless researchers, thanks from Tech and Chris, as a boxer once said " I love yous all"
Food4 thought
Regular
you too ChrisNice, the recent Cap. Raise funds are being dispersed as I post, being a retired Golf Professional who never made the big time, let alone 6 foot putts under tournament pressure, I think that I'll take a raincheck with regards to applying for the recent new opportunities at Brainchip
With Christmas a week away I personally want to wish all shareholders a very happy festive season and thank all the posters throughout the year who tried their best to keep things balanced and respectful, I love the humour and the selfless researchers, thanks from Tech and Chris, as a boxer once said " I love yous all"
sending you xmas greetings from Waiheke Island
Stable Genius
Regular
TCS Research Presents Lossy Image Compression Framework at ICVGIP 2025 | Sounak Dey posted on the topic | LinkedIn
After the lossless image compression, here comes a spiking autoencoder based lossy image compression framework from Neuromorphic Computing group at TCS Research. Watch out for the presentation at ICVGIP 2025. Tata Consultancy Services - Research
Frangipani
Top 20
Chiara Ceccobello, Gothenburg-based Project Manager for ESA Phi-Lab Sweden and Researcher at RISE - Research Institutes of Sweden announced three projects today, “driving the future of AI-on-the-edge for space applications. These initiatives mark a major step toward enabling autonomous, responsive, and efficient space systems for Sweden and Europe.”
One of the three projects launched by ESA Phi-Lab is called VAIAS - Validation of an AI Accelerator for Space (November 2025 - November 2027), in which BrainChip is involved via GR801:
“A collaboration between Frontgrade Gaisler and Rapidity Space, VAIAS will validate the GR801 neuromorphic AI accelerator, designed for onboard autonomy under radiation-prone conditions. This disruptive technology will enable real-time inference for Earth Observation, deep space and robotic missions.”
#esaphilabsweden #spaceinnovation #edgeai #earthobservation #aiforspace | Chiara Ceccobello
Exciting News from ESA Phi-Lab Sweden! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first three projects, driving the future of AI-on-the-edge for space applications. These initiatives mark a major step toward enabling autonomous, responsive, and efficient space systems for Sweden and Europe...
View attachment 93635
VAIAS - Validation of an AI Accelerator for Space
Reference number 2025-02991 Coordinator Frontgrade Gaisler AB Funding from Vinnova SEK 2 400 000 Project duration November 2025 - November 2027 Status Ongoing Venture 6G - Infrastructure Call ESA Phi-Lab Sweden: Edge AI in space
Purpose and goal
The project addresses a growing market for energy-efficient, fault-tolerant onboard AI computing capable of replacing ground-based processing/power-hungry accelerators ill-suited for space environments. GR801 combines Brainchip Akida IP with Frontgrade Gaisler NOELV fault-tolerant CPU, to deliver reliable inference at the edge in space. The project objectives are two key commercialization enablers: radiation validation of GR801 and AI S/W ecosystem and neuromorphic demonstrator by Rapidity Space
Expected effects and result
The project will deliver a GR801 component validated for space environments and also extensions to the AI SW eco-system. The intended impact is to increase autonomy in European space systems, energy-efficient space missions, support for emerging AI-at-the-edge applications, and potential spillover into adjacent domains such as climate monitoring and robotics. This will contribute to AI hardware and software innovations and accelerating the transition of AI edge computing from lab to orbit.
Planned approach and implementation
Frontgrade Gaisler will start with a preparatory study in WP1 on use cases and customer intelligence. The results will act as a basis for work packages WP4 and WP5 where the project will focus on the ecosystem around AI software and neuromorphic sensing/computing. WP1 will be carried out by Frontgrade Gaisler and the results will be transferred to Rapidity Space which carries out WP4 and WP5. In parallel, validation of the GR801 will be performed by Frontgrade Gaisler in WP2 and WP3.
The project description has been provided by the project members themselves and the text has not been looked at by our editors.
Last updated 11 November 2025
Reference number 2025-02991
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View attachment 93638
Rapidity Space - Spacecraft Software Engineer
Discover our expert spacecraft software engineering services, combining precision and innovation for cutting-edge space technology.www.rapidity-space.com
View attachment 93642
View attachment 93643
#bremen #d36 #spacetechexpo #bremen #spacesoftware #flightsoftware #onboardai #autonomoussystems #rustinspace #rapidityspace | Rapidity Space
We're on site and all set up at Space Tech Expo Europe in #Bremen! Europe’s largest space industry gathering is in full swing, and the Rapidity Space team is excited to be here at stand #D36. If you’re attending, drop by and say hello — we’d love to connect. We’re showcasing: 🧠 Neuromorphic...
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ESA Phi-Lab opens in Sweden | ESA Phi-Lab Sweden
esaphilab.se
ESA Phi-Lab opens in Sweden
ESA Phi-Lab is a strategic programme for the commercialisation of space technology innovations from the European Space Agency, ESA. RISE has now been selected to run ESA Phi-Lab Sweden with the aim of accelerating AI and edge learning in the space sector.
ESA Phi-Lab Sweden is part of a European network of Phi-Labs (the Phi-Lab NET) that will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in the space sector. The goal of ESA Phi-lab Sweden is to strengthen Sweden’s innovative power and position in the space market, by promoting the exchange of ideas, resources and knowledge to develop commercial concepts and applications that leverage the advances made in AI and edge-learning.
“ESA welcomes Phi-Lab Sweden as the tenth centre in the ESA Phi-Lab NET. Phi-Labs aim at bridging the gap between the research and commercial world and channel research efforts into developing commercially viable applications, products and solutions. Thanks to their expertise and world-class facilities, RISE and the Phi-Lab Sweden consortium will provide unique opportunities to entities interested in generating innovation in the space sector by using AI and edge learning.”, says Roberto Cossu, the Head of Innovation Services in the ESA Commercialisation Services Department.
RISE role is to be responsible for the management of ESA Phi-Lab Sweden for 6 years and, with support from Vinnova, will hold open calls and award Seed Fundings for research activities during the first four years of the project.
“With the broad expertise that exists within RISE and the project’s partner organisations, together with the breadth of test and demo facilities that exist within RISE in everything from materials development to the development of AI algorithms, the innovations of the future can be tested under realistic conditions,” says Tobias Edman, Head of Data Platforms and Systems at RISE.
Through collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), the project brings together different aspects of space activities in research, academia and industry. With a total budget of EUR 5.2 million, the initiative is financed half nationally through Vinnova and half through ESA, with support from the Swedish National Space Agency.
“ESA Phi-Lab Sweden offers unique opportunities to test AI and edge-learning on both hardware and software. It increases the pace of innovation, reduces risks and streamlines development.”, says Chiara Ceccobello, the ESA Phi-Lab Sweden project manager.
Press contact:
Tobias Edman, RISE, tobias.edman@ri.se
A week ago, I shared my findings about a new ESA-Phi-Lab Sweden project called VAIAS (Validation of an AI Accelerator for Space), which is a collaboration between Frontgrade Gaisler and Rapidity Space that aims to validate the GR801 neuromorphic AI accelerator (-> Akida) for onboard autonomy in radiation-prone environments.
Today, RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)
posted on LinkedIn about the official kick-off for VAIAS and two other ESA Phi-Lab Sweden Edge AI space projects:🚀 Kick-off for ESA Phi-Lab Sweden Projects! Yesterday brought an inspiring day of networking as we had the kick-off meeting with three groundbreaking projects funded by ESA Phi-Lab Sweden, a… | AI at RISE
🚀 Kick-off for ESA Phi-Lab Sweden Projects! Yesterday brought an inspiring day of networking as we had the kick-off meeting with three groundbreaking projects funded by ESA Phi-Lab Sweden, a strategic program led by RISE that drives the commercialization of space technology innovations, with a...
Gies
Regular
Interesting,
Partners show their progress with AKIDA.
That will be the proof of longtime speculation
www.linkedin.com
Partners show their progress with AKIDA.
That will be the proof of longtime speculation
CES 2026 | BrainChip | 10 comments
Proud to head into #CES2026 as a Gold Winner at the Best in Biz Awards 2025 🏆✨ This recognition reflects the momentum behind our ultra low power edge AI and the real world innovation our team and partners are building together. At CES, we’ll be showcasing partner demos and sharing what’s next...
Brainchip = right place, right time. " Chips as the new oil"
www.microchipusa.com
Interesting read.
Talks about the Military's insatiable demand for advanced chips.
Taiwan's dominance and why its a ticking time bomb.
How Military Tensions Are Driving the Next Semiconductor Chip Race
Military tensions are reshaping the semiconductor industry, driving innovation, disrupting supply chains, and redefining defense strategy worldwide.
Talks about the Military's insatiable demand for advanced chips.
Taiwan's dominance and why its a ticking time bomb.
CES Brainchip Website Add
brainchip.com
CES 2026
Reserve a Demo Session Schedule Your Private Meeting Register for Wednesday Mixer BrainChip at CES 2026 BrainChip will be demonstrating Akida-powered edge AI in real products at CES 2026. This is the opportunity to see the technology in action, connect with the team, and explore
brainchip.com
Frangipani
Top 20
Well, BrainChip may not yet have gone public about said sponsored drone competition, but hey, no one should underestimate the sleuthing skills of us TSE forum members…
(Unfortunately those investigative skills do not extend to predictions as to when we will finally see meaningful revenue and the BRN share price sustainably heading North…)
Should anyone be keen to find out more about the Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition (AVC) prior to the public reveal by our company (at least I believe that is the contest our CMO was alluding to), let me refer you to two posts of mine I wrote last month:
Last week, I shared my findings about the annual Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition (AVC) and drew attention to the LinkedIn profile of Gianni Schiappa, a fourth year undergrad from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, who has developed a fully autonomous drone system (into which he integrated Akida), which could successfully execute “autonomous landing on a moving platform.”
Further evidence* has now fully convinced me that Gianni Schiappa and the rest of his multi-disciplinary Cal Poly SLO team are indeed competing in the 2025/26 intermural AVC that was kicked off a few weeks ago, even though he didn’t specify any time frame for the “Raytheon Autonomous Drone and Rover - Operation Touchdown” project.
*See the first project description below referring to this season’s task of “engineering an autonomous system enabling a drone to detect, track, and land on a moving UGV”.
Turns out the Cal Poly engineering students are not the only ones cooking with the ingredient that is sometimes referred to as our secret sauce - at least one other uni team does, too: the one from UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)!
A UCSB Senior Capstone Project Team actually happened to win the 2024/25 AVC West Coast Region finals earlier this year (without the help of Akida at the time, though**), so the new cohort must surely be very keen on defending their school’s title.
While I don’t know whether all of the university teams competing in the ongoing AVC round were possibly advised by their Raytheon mentors to use Akida or whether it was their own idea to try out neuromorphic computing for computer vision tasks onboard the autonomous drone they have been challenged to design and build, it is definitely encouraging to see more and more students from universities other than those that have joined the BrainChip University AI Accelerator Program getting hands-on experience with Akida.
Meet some of the aspiring engineers that make up the UCSB team participating in the 2025/26 Raytheon AVC: Electrical Engineering Seniors Steven De Jesus, Jiahuan (Henry) Zheng and Aneesh Thakkar.
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One of the people mentoring this season’s UCSB Senior Student Capstone Project Team is Adailton Nali Junior, who was a member of the UCSB team that won the AVC West Coast finals in June.
He also posted a link to yet another RTX video about the contest, which uses some scenes from the other videos I posted last week, but also contains different footage and information:
2025 Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competiton Overview | Adailton Nali Junior
I'm thrilled to be selected as a mentor for the 2025-26 UCSB College of Engineering Raytheon Sponsored Capstone Project! I love to teach and give back to our community, so what better way other than helping the future generation of engineers in their education and development ?! For more...
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**Here’s the evidence that last season’s West Coast AVC winners did not use any neuromorphic technology for their two autonomous vehicles, just in case you were wondering…
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I happened to find further info about the 2025/26 AVC earlier today, this time on the LinkedIn page of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas:
Congratulations to the 1st Place winners of the 2025 Fall UTDesign EXPO UT DESIGN I: Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition John Didimos Hannah Madsen Syed Muhammad Shaheer Akhtar Dineshman… | Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Congratulations to the 1st Place winners of the 2025 Fall UTDesign EXPO UT DESIGN I: Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition John Didimos Hannah Madsen Syed Muhammad Shaheer Akhtar Dineshman Bajracharya Aadesh Senthilkumar Jassiel Lorea Riley Mckinney Love Bhusal Neil Patel Tu Dao UT DESIGN...
The UTD students’ corporate mentors from RTX are Marta Tatu, Data Scientist at Raytheon and Trey Williams, Technical Fellow, Software Engineering at Raytheon - they can be seen standing on the right in the following picture taken at the ECE UTDesign EXPO on 12 December:
Trey Williams - Raytheon | LinkedIn
Experience: Raytheon · Location: Plano · 382 connections on LinkedIn. View Trey Williams’ profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.
The Eye on AI podcast with Steve Brightfield suggests that all competing uni teams were equipped with Akida hardware for the 2025/26 round of the AVC.
According to Aneesh Thakkar in my post tagged above, they were given AKD1000 M.2 Boards, which makes sense given that the UTD students’ poster mentions they also used a Raspberry Pi 5 with M2 HAT.
FYI: Craig S. Smith was referring to his Oura smart ring, a health tracking wearable by Finnish health technology company Oura Health Oy, founded in 2013.
Explore the Benefits of Oura: Smart Rings for Wellness
Learn why Oura Rings are essential: Advanced technology precisely tracks health metrics, sleep patterns, and stress management for better daily well-being.
The US Department of Defense / DOD (or as the Trump Administration now loves to call it, the Department of War / DOW) is actually Oura’s largest enterprise customer.
Earlier this year, an announcement about this partnership (which already commenced in 2019) and rumours about consumer data shared with Palantir (co-founded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who is one of Donald Trump’s longtime backers) sparked a backlash on social media - more and more users started voicing privacy concerns regarding their biometric data or expressed a general unhappiness with Oura’s connections to the military and/or the Trump Administration.
Read here, why “Oura’s Partnership with the Pentagon Is Ringing Alarm Bells for Customers” and how the company responded to the accusations:
The Frightening Reason Some Women Are Ditching Their Oura Rings
“It’s not paranoid to be concerned about your data. It’s justified.”
On-device Edge AI to the rescue!
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