KUALA LUMPUR: SkyeChip Bhd has entered into a design and engineering collaboration with Japan-based SAIMEMORY Corp to support the development of next-generation memory technology for artificial intelligence (AI).
In a joint statement, the companies said SkyeChip would provide design and engineering support, as well as custom intellectual property (IP) solutions, for SAIMEMORY's Z-Angle Memory (ZAM) programme.
SAIMEMORY, a Tokyo-based subsidiary of SoftBank Corp, is developing ZAM for data centres and other applications requiring the training and inference of large-scale AI models.
The technology is designed to support high-capacity and high-bandwidth data processing, improve processing performance and reduce power consumption.
SkyeChip will leverage its expertise in silicon design and integration to support the programme.
The companies said the engagement marked an important step towards strengthening their relationship and establishing a long-term partnership aimed at the future commercialisation of ZAM.
SkyeChip chief executive officer Datuk Fong Swee Kiang said the collaboration would expand the company's involvement in advanced AI memory programmes.
"Today AI computing is limited by the memory wall, and SkyeChip's memory interface technology is the door through that wall.
"We are proud to be associated with SAIMEMORY in their next-generation memory initiative for AI," he said.
Meanwhile, SAIMEMORY president and chief executive officer Hideya Yamaguchi said SkyeChip's technical expertise and experience would play an important role in developing ZAM.
He said the company looked forward to strengthening its partnership with SkyeChip towards commercialising the technology and creating a new market for next-generation memory.
The ZAM programme is being undertaken under a research and development project subsidised by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO).
