Deeptech startup Zero-Error Systems (ZES), based in Singapore, has successfully raised USD $7.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. ZES specializes in providing high reliability semiconductor solutions for space and power management applications. The investment, led by the Dart Family Office and Airbus Ventures, will fuel the company’s global sales and marketing initiatives and accelerate its product roadmap. ZES aims to meet the increasing demand for radiation protection, power reliability, and data integrity solutions tailored for Low Earth Orbit satellites, deep space rovers and landers, as well as various power management applications on Earth.
The space industry has witnessed a surge in companies developing satellites and space robots for missions to the Moon and Mars. While software and algorithms play a vital role in enabling intelligence, hardware and semiconductor innovations are equally crucial. These innovations support high processing power, ensure reliability in extreme environments, and enable higher power density in energy-constrained satellites, thus extending their lifespan in space.
Dr. Shu Wei, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of ZES, highlights the reliance of aerospace companies on Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) semiconductor devices for their satellite electronics systems. However, these devices are not designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space. ZES addresses critical concerns regarding power reliability and data integrity by leveraging patented radiation hardening technologies to protect COTS semiconductor devices from malfunctions.
Established in 2019 as a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, ZES was founded by semiconductor industry veterans and integrated circuit design experts. Their deep understanding of semiconductor device characteristics, behavior in different radiation scenarios, and the essential radiation-hardened mechanisms required for protecting semiconductors’ physical integrity underpin the company’s capabilities.
Khor Hwai Lin, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at ZES, emphasizes the significance of ZES as a pioneering Asian semiconductor startup in developing radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions. By bridging the space and semiconductor industries, ZES plays a strategic role in Singapore’s technology landscape. As part of its growth plan, ZES intends to strengthen its engineering capacity by recruiting additional electronics engineers specializing in space and various power management applications.
The latest funding will also support ZES’s research and development activities in Singapore, while facilitating customer design-in activities on a global scale.
