The Groningen-based startup IMChip is making significant strides with groundbreaking technology that fundamentally changes how chips operate. With a recent investment from Future Tech Ventures (FTV), the young company is accelerating the development of energy-efficient in-memory chips designed to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible and sustainable.

IMChip (stands for In-Memory Chip) is developing chips that think like the human brain. Unlike traditional chips that store data in one place and process it in another, IMChip’s technology combines memory and processing in the same location. This enables faster, more energy-efficient, and smarter computations, ideal for AI applications.

Ignacio Faustino, investmentmanager at Future Tech Ventures, is enthusiastic about the investment in IMChip due to their groundbreaking approach to brain-inspired chip technology: “We see in IMChip a unique combination of scientific depth and commercial potential. Their innovative chip architecture aligns perfectly with the growing demand for energy-efficient AI solutions. We are proud to support IMChip and contribute to the development of sustainable deeptech innovation, which fits seamlessly with our vision for the future.”

An idea born from fundamental research

The technology behind IMChip originates from years of research into spintronics and neuromorphic systems. Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Tamalika Banerjee previously worked at institutions such as MIT and NanoLab Twente. In 2018, her research group began developing brain-inspired hardware. “We aimed to create chips that can learn, remember, and compute like the brain, all in one place and with extremely low energy consumption,” says Tamalika. This technology can be applied in the automotive industry, in mobile phones, in healthcare, for security, and in AI. Think, for example, of medical applications and self-driving cars: these use cases rely on lightning-fast decision-making without delay.

From lab to startup

IMChip was officially founded in November 2024. The catalyst? A pitch at Innovation Day caught the attention of investors. Shortly thereafter, a patent was filed for a new chip architecture that merges memory and processing while remaining compatible with existing silicon technology. “We realized our technology had real potential to transform the industry,” Tamalika explains.

A team with a mission

IMChip’s team is a unique blend of experienced researchers and young talents with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, electronics, and AI. “Everyone on the team is intrinsically motivated to make this succeed,” says Tamalika. “We meet weekly, brainstorm often, and constantly inspire each other. It’s literally brain-inspired teamwork.”

What makes IMChip unique?

While traditional chip manufacturers like TSMC and Samsung focus on shrinking components, IMChip takes a different path: a fundamentally new architecture. “Our chips are not only smaller and faster, but also smarter and more energy-efficient. They’re designed with the brain as their blueprint,” Tamalika explains.

IMChip accelerates chip technology development with strategic investment from FTV

Thanks to an investment from FTV, IMChip can take a crucial step in advancing its technology, from proof-of-concept to a working prototype. This investment gives IMChip the opportunity to realize its ambitions. The high costs of operations in the cleanroom for our deeptech start up, is an important concern. The company aims to deliver a minimum viable product within a few years, paving the way for commercialization.

About IMChip

IMChip develops energy efficient computer chips for the chip industry to accelerate AI in a sustainable way. The startup is working with the patented memristor technology from the research group of Prof. Tamalika Banerjee to develop chips for applications used in self-driving cars, for example, where onboard, highly efficient, low-latency AI tasks must be performed. The company officially started in the autumn of 2024 and is in the early stages of product development and attracting investors.

Source article: Future Tech Ventures
Photographer: Jan Buwalda