Dramatic hardware and energy savings in computer servers by doubling memory capacity and bandwidth using novel general-purpose compression

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Technology and computer applications require the use of massive and growing amounts of data. Random Access Memory (RAM) has a direct impact on how many programs can be executed at the same time and how much data is readily available. Advanced applications may be limited by memory bottlenecks. More (effective) memory capacity is needed, more cheaply. Data centres now consume 3% of the global electricity supply and account for 2% of total greenhouse gas emissions. This consumption is expected to triple in the next decade and may even reach 20% of the world’s energy in 2025. This is unsustainable. MaxiMem is the solution. It is a patented compression technology that is capable of storing and transporting information in computer memory as densely as possible, doubling memory capacity, bandwidth, speed and performance and potentially halving current energy expenditure. It is an IP block that can be installed on the System on Chips (SoCs) of servers, smartphones, tablets, computers and high-performance computers. Servers are our main (though not only) targets at market launch due to the sector growth and high cost saving potential. Server manufacturers could save up to 50% of memory costs and 25% of total hardware costs. Chip innovations like ours are normally evaluated through installation of hardware or a layout design on a chip, which is costly and slow. ZeroPoint will use its experience to develop business-enabling tools to realistically simulate a chip implementation of our IP within the customer’s architecture. These tools will be crucial to bring our IP technology to market. ZeroPoint was created in 2016 as a spinout from Chalmers University of Technology. We are now participating in the important EuroEXA project. SME Instrument support will greatly reduce our time-to-market of the MaxiMem project, which has an internal return rate of 155% (4 years), a Net Present Value of €32.3 in Year 4 of commercialisation, and an EBITDA the same year of €23.6 m.