SPARK Microsystems Wins Semiconductor Innovation Award for LE-UWB Transceiver
Recognition from Canada's Semiconductor Council highlights growing market demand for ultra-low-power wireless connectivity in AI-era devices
SPARK Microsystems, a Canadian fabless semiconductor company specialising in next-generation short-range wireless communications, announced that its SR1120 LE-UWB™ wireless transceiver has been honoured as a recipient of the Product Innovation Award in conjunction with the Semiconductor Achievement Awards hosted by Canada's Semiconductor Council (CSC).
Presented last night at the CHIPS NORTH Executive Summit in Ottawa, the Semiconductor Achievement Awards recognise the leaders, innovators and organisations driving excellence across Canada’s semiconductor industry. The Product Innovation Award honours SPARK for its innovative technology and significant achievements in the semiconductor sector. The award recognises the commercialisation of new technologies and products that meet strong market demands.
The CSC is a national semiconductor industry association representing a broad ecosystem of Canadian microelectronics companies, chip manufacturers, R&D organisations, and leading government labs, agencies and universities. The CSC’s mission is to lead the national semiconductor strategy and implement initiatives that position Canada to be a leading global developer, manufacturer and supplier of embedded semiconductor products. SPARK Microsystems joined the CSC in 2023.
“SPARK Microsystems is unique among Canada’s semiconductor industry and the global semi ecosystem – its short-range wireless products overcome longstanding limitations in connected devices,” said Paul Slaby, managing director of CSC. “Products like SPARK’s that break the barriers of legacy technologies and meet the connectivity demands of AI will accelerate the growth and competitiveness of Canada’s semiconductor sector.”
“SPARK celebrates our Montreal roots and is committed to cultivating the full promise of Canadian technology innovation in collaboration with peers, partners and industry leaders,” said Frederic Nabki, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SPARK Microsystems. “AI-era devices require deterministic wireless performance to ensure reliability under extreme demands that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi weren’t designed for. This award from the CSC affirms the connectivity revolution that’s now needed and underway.”
SPARK’s SR1120 LE-UWB™ transceiver delivers 40X greater data throughput than Bluetooth at approximately 25X lower power consumption, with 60X lower latency. Compared to Wi-Fi, SPARK’s SR1120 delivers high data rates at approximately 5X lower latency with up to 100X lower power consumption. Compared to UWB offerings limited to ranging and positioning applications, the SR1120 delivers competing ranging capability at approximately 100X lower power consumption.
