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

Project description

Doubling server memory by compression

The MaxiMem project will introduce a patented compression technology that will double memory capacity on servers while halving digital storage costs. More importantly, perhaps, it will halve the current energy consumption by data centres, currently accounting for 3 % of global electricity use – also for 2 % of total greenhouse gas emissions - and heading towards an unsustainable 20 % of global energy use by 2025. Before marketing, MaxiMem’s creators ZeroPoint Technologies, members of the EuroEXA project, will evaluate the new chip through simulation on customer frameworks. Initially, their chip will be installed on servers and eventually on smartphones, computers and other devices.

Objective

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.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

ZEROPOINT TECHNOLOGIES AB
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 971 223,75
Address
FALKENBERGSGATAN 3
412 85 Goteborg
Sweden

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 387 462,50
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