IQE and Quinas Complete ULTRARAM Industrialization Project
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United Kingdom-based compound semiconductor specialist IQE and emerging memory innovator Quinas Technology have completed a £1.1 million Innovate UK-funded project to industrialize ULTRARAM, a novel universal memory technology. The successful conclusion marks a key step in commercializing the world’s first quantum-powered memory and positioning the UK at the forefront of next-generation memory development.
The 12-month project, led by Quinas and involving Lancaster and Cardiff Universities, aimed to transition ULTRARAM from lab-scale research to a scalable industrial process. IQE developed a manufacturing method to grow the complex compound semiconductor structures underpinning ULTRARAM on an industrial platform, focusing on gallium antimonide and aluminum antimonide epitaxy — capabilities not previously available at commercial scale for memory devices.
“We have successfully achieved our goal of developing a scalable epitaxy process for ULTRARAM, a milestone towards industrial production of packaged chips,” said Jutta Meier, CEO of IQE, in a statement. “This project represents a unique opportunity to bring the next generation of compound semiconductor materials to life in the UK, and we are proud of our work with Quinas, Lancaster and Cardiff Universities to advance commercial production and create world-leading universal memory devices.”
Invented at Lancaster University, ULTRARAM promises a fusion of DRAM-like speed and endurance with flash memory’s nonvolatility, while delivering dramatic gains in energy efficiency. Its potential applications span AI workloads, mobile devices, data centers, quantum computing, and defense, positioning it as a strategic asset for sovereign memory capabilities.
“This project marks a turning point in the journey from university research to commercial memory products,” said James Ashforth-Pook, CEO of Quinas Technology, in the release. “With IQE’s industrial capabilities and Innovate UK’s support, we have taken a critical step toward building sovereign capability in memory – the most strategically vital yet underrepresented segment of the UK semiconductor stack. ULTRARAM’s potential to radically improve energy efficiency in AI, mobile and data center applications positions Britain as a leader in next-generation memory innovation.”
With the project now complete, Quinas and IQE are investigating ways to work with foundries and potential strategic partners to advance ULTRARAM towards pilot production. The effort aligns with the UK Government’s semiconductor strategy, which prioritizes innovation and resilience in critical semiconductor technologies such as memory.
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