Customer forecast indicates this chip will become one of the largest revenue generating contracts in EnSilica’s portfolio
EnSilica plc (AIM: ENSI, OTC: ENSIF), a leading fabless microchip maker with a growing portfolio of reusable IP, serving the Space & Comms, Industrial, Automotive and Healthcare markets, is pleased to announce that the Edge AIapplication-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) supply contract, as first announced on 15 July 2024, has successfully completed production tape-out, releasing the US$5m NRE and tape-out fee to be recognised across FY2026 and FY2027.
Next Steps
Achieving production tape-out represents a major milestone for this supply contract, marking the completion of the design phase and testing and the transition to the manufacture of production tooling and initial samples. Progress on the supply contract has been led by the customer’s schedule, with first silicon samples anticipated in 2026 and volume production expected to begin during calendar year 2027.
The Edge-AI supply contract is expected to become a significant revenue contributor to the Group of up to an estimated US$50 million over five years once full-scale production commences.
Portfolio
With the completion of the Edge AI production tape-out:
· three additional ASICs are now expected to join the five ASICs currently in volume production over the next 18 months; and
· a further eleven active ASIC and ASSP (application specific standard product) programmes continue to progress through their respective design and development phases.
This expanding portfolio reflects the strengthening of both EnSilica’s recurring semiconductor supply revenues and its long-term growth prospects as more programmes transition from design and development into production.
Edge AI – a growth market
Edge AI refers to artificial intelligence processing performed locally within devices or systems, rather than in centralised cloud computing facilities. This approach enables faster decision-making, improved privacy, reduced communications bandwidth and lower power consumption, making it increasingly attractive for the Space & Comms, Industrial, Automotive and Healthcare markets.
Consequently, Edge AI is one of the most significant growth areas within the semiconductor industry and this supply contract demonstrates EnSilica’s ability to service the requirements of these highly complex ASIC solutions into emerging high-value markets.
Ian Lankshear, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“I would like to thank our team for their hard work and close collaboration with our customer in achieving this milestone, which is a key step on the path to full-scale production of our first chip within the significant growth market of Edge AI processing.
With five chips already in production and a substantial pipeline of programmes advancing towards production, we are very visibly building a growing portfolio of valuable long-term ASIC supply revenues.”
