Think Silicon: The success story of the Startup from Patras continues having as a “vehicle” the new R&D hub
The evolution of the Greek Think Silicon from a small Startup from Patras to a strong "player" in the global graphics processor industry proves that hard work, perseverance and the will to innovate are the "keys" for every Startup that wants to make its vision a reality
George Sidiropoulos and Iakovos Stamoulis started the Think Silicon project from scratch in 2007, based in a small office of 25 sq. m. in the area of Patras. In fact, the business journey of the Startup from Patras began at a time when Startups in Greece existed almost exclusively on a theoretical level, without the current financing and networking opportunities.
Two years later, the company began working on the wider field of graphics, while today it designs low-consumption graphics processors for wearables (smartwatches, fitness bands) and electrical appliances. In a relatively short period of time, the project of the two founders was a great success both within and outside the Greek borders.
With a focus on innovation, the Think Silicon team decided to get involved in the design and development of high-performance and low-energy GPUs, “virgin soil” even among tech companies. In the face of difficulties and in the midst of a severe economic crisis, Think Silicon over the next decade overcame all obstacles by reaching the acquisition deal with Applied Materials, the American material technology giant with an annual revenue of 23 billion dollars, under the umbrella of which the Startup works as a standalone subsidiary. Today, Think Silicon is among the leaders in the graphics processor industry for the IoT and wearables market, with branches in the U.S., Canada, Germany and Taipei, while some of the biggest names in the semiconductor market are customers of the company.It is also noteworthy that many of the smartwatches currently on the market contain the ultra-low power made in Greece technology of Think Silicon, which contributes significantly to the increase of the battery life of these devices from days to weeks.
A characteristic feature of the company of George Sidiropoulos and Iakovos Stamoulis is the belief in the benefits of research and innovation, something that as the example of Think Silicon proves, are those that can lead a modern Startup to the top. For this reason, the Startup from Patras has since last March joined forces with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with Think Silicon taking over the creation and funding of the R&D department. Having received significant help from research projects in its first steps, Think Silicon is increasingly putting R&D at the core of its business strategy.
In June, Think Silicon began a collaboration with the Department of Informatics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with the aim of creating a research team that will work on the design of graphics processors and artificial intelligence processors for embedded systems.The team is led by the assistant professor of the university, Dr. George Keramidas, who has been responsible for many years for Research and Technology at Think Silicon. The funded program is expected to have multiple benefits for both the company and the city of Thessaloniki.
Through the collaboration, Think Silicon “enters” dynamically in the field of graphics and artificial intelligence processors, with the company aiming to develop solutions against the background of new technologies that, in addition to AI, include edge computing, computer vision, etc. Specifically, the two sides aim to address the technological challenges related to the efficient processing of data on embedded devices.It is worth mentioning that through the funded program, more than 10 places have been created for studies at doctoral and postgraduate level in the fields of multi-core processor design, intelligent memory systems, software and compilers for embedded systems.
At a time when emerging technologies are becoming more and more important for the global business as a whole, the partnership of Think Silicon with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the field of Research and Development “inaugurates” a new era for the Greek Startup.
Working with trained engineers and recognized researchers, the Startup strengthens its “arsenal” in order to win the bet of artificial intelligence microchips, putting a Greek signature on the electronic devices of millions of consumers throughout the length and breadth of the world.
For more information on the available jobs you can visit the company’s website: www.think-silicon.com/career
