SCI Semiconductor, a UK-based technology startup, has raised £2.5 million in funding to accelerate the development of memory-safe computer chips, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity at the hardware level.
The funding round was led by Mercia Ventures, with additional backing from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance and several angel investors from Silicon Valley and the UK. The investment will support the development of SCI’s proprietary chip architecture, ICENI, which is based on CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions)—a technology originally developed at the University of Cambridge.
CHERI is designed to mitigate memory-related vulnerabilities, which are responsible for nearly 70% of all known cyberattacks. By restructuring how memory is accessed and managed, the ICENI chips aim to prevent common security flaws that malicious actors frequently exploit.
Google Research has already signed on to evaluate the technology, indicating growing industry interest in hardware-level security solutions. The announcement comes amid increasing concerns about the limitations of software-only cybersecurity measures and a broader push by governments and enterprises to strengthen digital defenses through more robust infrastructure.
In addition to advancing its chip development, SCI plans to establish a new base in Sheffield, where it will double its current workforce by hiring 20 engineers. The expansion is expected to support the company’s efforts in both research and product deployment.
SCI has also received more than £1 million in UK government grants, reflecting national efforts to strengthen the domestic semiconductor sector and address global supply chain challenges.
The company’s technology is positioned for applications in critical infrastructure, defense, and commercial sectors.
