| RefNo | EC/2024/37 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Knowles, Simon: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Date | 21 April 2024 |
| Description | Certificate endorsing election of Simon Knowles as a Fellow of the Royal Society. Includes personal details of the elected Fellow, citation giving the reasons for election, and names of proposers. Signed by the Executive Director of the Royal Society, Julie Maxton. |
| Citation | Simon Knowles is the chief architect and cofounder of Graphcore. He created a new type of AI processor called IPU (Intelligent Processing Unit) which has become a challenger to the dominant AI processor from Nvidia, the world’s most valuable semiconductor company. Graphcore has become one of the very few European technology companies to raise more than $700m at a valuation of $2.8bn. It has created more than 500 jobs and achieved global recognition for its innovative design in the important field of Artificial Intelligence. This gives Britain and Europe a leading position in one of the most hotly contested technologies of AI processors. He has also had a transforming influence on the broadband internet connections in the world through the design, together with Sophie Wilson, of the Firepath processor. It now powers 80% of the worlds ADSL lines for broadband access to the home and businesses. He obtained his degree in Engineering at Churchill College, Cambridge and has been at the forefront of silicon chip design for 30 years. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Computer printout |
| PhysicalDescription | A4 papers |
| AccessStatus | Closed |
| AccessConditions | Election certificates are subject to 50 year closure period from date of election. Details of proposers and date certificate was first submitted for candidacy are kept confidential until the 50 year closure period has elapsed. |