BrainChip (ASX: BRN) has formally commenced development of its AKD2500 custom silicon project, marking a strategic step in advancing its next-generation Akida 2.0 neuromorphic platform into physical silicon.
The company will fabricate the device using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 12-nanometre process technology, with total project expenditure budgeted at approximately US$2.5 million.
The program is structured as a multi-project wafer pilot to validate functionality and manufacturability before any consideration of risk production or volume manufacturing.
Prototype silicon is expected in the third quarter of 2026 following completion of the pilot cycle.
Integrated Circuitry Development
BrainChip has engaged ASICLAND to provide custom application-specific integrated circuit development services, including design support, fabrication coordination with TSMC, packaging, and testing.
The AKD2500 will implement BrainChip’s Akida 2.0 neuromorphic architecture on an industry-proven process node, enabling customers to assess performance under conditions relevant to modern edge artificial intelligence deployments.
Development will progress through staged milestones over the coming year, with expenditures aligned to defined technical deliverables.
The initial multi-project wafer phase is intended to deliver functional validation and assess manufacturability prior to any decision on further production stages.
Project Financial Commitment
BrainChip expects total project costs of approximately US$2.5 million, covering development services, fabrication, packaging, testing and licensing of required third-party intellectual property.
A material portion of the budget is expected to be directed toward intellectual property (IP) licence fees associated with advanced design elements and supporting technologies.
Spending will occur on a staged basis in line with technical progress across the pilot development program.
The company stated that the AKD2500 initiative does not include any customer orders or guaranteed production volumes.
Strategic Positioning in Edge AI
BrainChip believes the AKD2500 represents a disciplined investment in its long-term roadmap, allowing customers to evaluate event-based, low-power processing capabilities in a real-world silicon implementation.
The larger-capacity silicon demonstration is designed to support engagement across emerging design cycles in defence, industrial, consumer, and intelligent sensing markets.
“This chip gives customers a tangible way to evaluate the capabilities of our Akida 2.0 architecture, which is essential for expanding commercial engagement and driving future IP licensing opportunities,” chief executive officer Sean Hehir said.
BrainChip will retain ownership of its pre-existing and newly developed proprietary IP associated with the Akida platform.
The project includes the licensing and use of selected third-party intellectual property required to support implementation of Akida 2.0 in silicon.
