Quinas Technology raises seed to commercialise ULTRARAM persistent memory for AI
This article covers Quinas Technology, a semiconductor startup, which has secured seed funding to advance commercial development of its ULTRARAM memory for AI, data centres and edge computing. The funding aims to progress a persistent memory technology originating from Lancaster University and to support deployment of high-performance, energy-efficient memory for AI workloads, data centres and edge computing.
Quinas Technology, a semiconductor startup developing a new memory technology called ULTRARAM, has secured funding in a seed funding round to advance commercial development of its memory for AI, data centres and edge computing — a sign that early-stage memory innovations continue to attract attention in hardware-focused deep tech.
Why it matters
Memory is a persistent bottleneck for AI and high-performance compute. Improvements that increase speed and endurance while reducing energy use can cut operating costs and unlock denser, more efficient inference and training deployments in data centres and at the edge.
ULTRARAM, the technology at the centre of this announcement, is pitched as a response to those constraints. Originating from more than a decade of research at Lancaster University, it aims to combine properties traditionally split between DRAM and flash, which could alter trade-offs for system architects if the technology scales as intended.
For the UK research ecosystem, the move highlights how long-term academic work can be translated into commercial IP and startup activity — an important pathway for retaining high-value semiconductor capability in Europe.
Inside the product
ULTRARAM is described as a persistent memory that blends the speed and endurance characteristics of DRAM with the non‑volatility of flash. That positioning targets workloads where both performance and data persistence matter, such as certain AI inference tasks, real-time analytics and edge compute scenarios where power and thermal budgets are constrained.
The company says the technology is being progressed toward commercial deployment. Key technical and manufacturing milestones — such as integration with existing memory hierarchies, yield at scale and supply chain arrangements for fabrication — will determine whether ULTRARAM becomes a practical alternative to established memory types.
Who are the investors?
Quinas Technology has secured backing under a co-investment framework from Malta Government Venture Capital. The support is contingent on match financing and is intended to underpin the company’s expansion activities linked to establishing a presence in Malta, including corporate structuring and strategic operations that the company says will help progress ULTRARAM toward commercial deployment.
In the announcement, Spokesperson, Malta Government Venture Capital, said:
Semiconductors are a foundational technology for economic resilience and national competitiveness. Quinas Technology represents the type of high‑value, IP‑driven company that aligns with Malta’s long‑term vision to attract advanced technology investment and talent.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, James Ashforth-Pook, Co-founder & CEO at Quinas Technology, said:
We are delighted to receive this commitment from Malta Government Venture Capital. It reflects Malta’s ambition to support deep-tech companies at the forefront of semiconductor innovation and provides an important foundation as we continue to scale ULTRARAM towards commercial deployment.
The bigger picture
Quinas’s funding and international expansion plans — the company cites growth across the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia — reflect a wider trend: governments and public-backed funds are increasingly willing to co-invest in hardware startups that carry strategic industrial value. The deal also signals continued interest from tech investors in memory innovations tailored for AI workloads.
If ULTRARAM can meet key technical and manufacturing hurdles, it would add to a small but growing group of UK-originated semiconductor ventures trying to move critical IP and production capability closer to end markets. For the UK and Europe, supporting that translation from university research to commercial product remains a strategic priority for competitiveness in advanced technology.
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