SCI Semiconductor
United Kingdom · Cybersecurity · Hardware
SCI Semiconductor develops ICENI, a family of microcontrollers that enforce memory safety and software compartmentalisation in hardware. Embedded-systems developers can build security-critical devices on the chips; hardware-enforced capability boundaries isolate components and constrain what code can access if a software flaw is exploited.
How it works
The ICENI family integrates a CHERIoT-enabled 32-bit processor core with memory and peripherals for embedded devices. Its capability-based architecture sets fine-grained boundaries around code and data, so software components receive only the permissions they need. This hardware compartmentalisation limits the reach of memory-safety bugs and helps prevent a compromised component from escalating privileges across the device.
Customers integrate the microcontrollers into products such as industrial controllers, medical devices, automotive systems, smart-energy equipment and other connected infrastructure. SCI also offers development systems and supports a software ecosystem built around the CHERIoT technology.
Customers and maturity
The product is for embedded-systems developers and manufacturers whose devices need long-lived security and reliability. SCI announced first silicon availability for ICENI in March 2026 and describes its microcontroller family as commercially available; the September 2026 £5 million funding announcement supports production scale-up. The company is headquartered in Sheffield, with an engineering presence in Cambridge and an office in Santa Clara.
- Product
- ICENI memory-safe microcontrollers
- Headquarters
- Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Technology
- CHERIoT and hardware capability isolation
- Applications
- Critical infrastructure, industrial, medical and automotive
Funding history
1 round · 1 with disclosed amounts| Announced | Round | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding round | £5M | Mercia Ventures — LeadPXN Ventures — LeadBlack Opal Ventures — ParticipantOsney Capital — Participant |