Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NOVOFLOP (Non-Volatile Magnetic Flip Flop)
Berichtszeitraum: 2016-03-01 bis 2017-08-31
The ERC Proof of Concept Project NOVOFLOP not only enabled us to further improve and develop the flip flop idea, but also to probe its commercialization potential and what is needed to bridge the gap towards market. Simulations showed that indeed the flip flops can be stacked to an ultra dense shift register and that the register is able to tolerate a moderate amount of variability. The for these simulations required micromagnetic model as well as the SPICE model for the flip flop's circuit level simulations has been published as open source to further push the idea and to serve as a seed for the familiarization of the next generation of engineers. In parallel a process for the manufacturing of the flip flops has been developed. The commercialization potential of the idea was tested by an application to the Science and Business Awards of the Rudolf Sallinger Fonds, where the (business) idea was ranked Top 10, and further evaluated and refined during the I.E.C.T. Hermann Hauser summer school event. Overall, the business idea to create a start-up that builds tailor-made solutions and licenses them to semiconductor companies was very well perceived and encouraged the preparation of an FFG Spin-off Fellowship in order to continue the work on the flip flop and the foundation of a company.