The NRFC is investing $10.1 million in Syenta, an early-stage Australian semiconductor company that is accelerating AI computing by developing next-generation technologies that increase data transmission speed leading to improved semiconductor performance.
The NRFC investment in Syenta commercialises Australian innovation, helps build Australia’s sovereign advanced manufacturing capability, and anchors a national semiconductor supply chain.
About Syenta
Syenta is a next-generation semiconductor company with a mission to accelerate AI computing through advanced chip packaging technology. Emerging from pioneering research at the Australian National University, Syenta is now headquartered in Sydney with a presence in the United States and Europe.
Syenta’s proprietary Localised Electrochemical Manufacturing (LEM) technology enables more chiplets – smaller, specialised chips – to be ‘packaged’ onto a single chip and creates denser connections between chips. The technology essentially creates many super ‘highways’ through which information can rapidly travel, opening up a critical data transmission bottleneck that AI technologies currently struggle with.
The vastly improved performance and scalability of Syenta’s chip systems will in turn enable the next generation AI and quantum computing.
Investment impact
Commercialising Australian innovation
Syenta is commercialising doctoral research that was carried out at the Australian National University, and the NRFC’s investment will help keep Syenta’s valuable intellectual property in Australia.
Building Australia’s sovereign advanced manufacturing capability
Syenta’s vision is for the company to grow into a pillar of the local manufacturing industry and NRFC investment will help to establish sovereign advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in Australia.
Reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions
Syenta’s highly innovative method of manufacturing is faster and more efficient, cutting the number of steps required for semiconductor manufacturing by 40%. It has the potential to generate less waste and use significantly less energy than conventional semiconductor manufacturing processes, and NRFC investment will enable Syenta to embed low carbon and circular practices in its technology as it scale.
Creating local jobs
Syenta currently employs 33 people in Sydney, Australia, and NRFC funding is expected to create an additional 25 new Australian jobs in fabrication, operations, and engineering.