Canada is going big on semiconductors. The country is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to ramp up their domestic manufacturing and become a leader in the chip industry. These tiny chips power much of the tech we use daily and that companies use to operate, so a semiconductor chip shortage can have major downstream effects. As Canada continues to invest in semiconductor manufacturing, these are the companies you should know.
Top Semiconductor Companies in Canada
- IBM
- Intel
- Tenstorrent
- Untether AI
- SPARK Microsystems
Top Semiconductor Companies in Canada to Know
Untether AI helps clients accelerate their AI capabilities by developing specialized semiconductors. According to the company, its chip architecture eliminates data bottlenecks that lead to high energy consumption and prevent AI applications from running efficiently.
Teledyne DALSA develops specialized semiconductor chips used for electronic imaging. Its products help power hardware like cameras, 3D sensors, X-ray machines and infrared detectors. According to Teledyne, its main customers use miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements, or MEMS, hardware, which requires unique manufacturing capabilities compared to regular silicon production.
Intel is a global leader in the semiconductor space. It manufactures processing units for all types of tech, from personal computers to IoT devices and data servers. In recent years, the company ramped up production of its Xeon processors, which can process the large quantities of data required for AI engines. Intel is known globally and it operates several offices and facilities in Canada.
SPARK Microsystems develops semiconductors for IoT, VR and gaming devices like audio headsets. Its chips feature ultra-wideband technology, which provides significantly better data rates and improves the battery life of various devices, according to the company.
IBM is one of the largest tech companies in the world, with offices and manufacturing facilities across several countries. Although the company does much more than develop semiconductors, it’s contributing research and development to the field. In recent years, IBM has developed processors for quantum computing and AI, two fields that require extreme processing power.
Mosaid is one of Canada’s most experienced semiconductor companies, dating back to the 1970s. Today, the company specializes in patent licensing for its hundreds of semiconductors and microcomponents. With its licensing, external companies can manufacture and sell its specialized chips.
Alphawave is a semiconductor company that provides various hardware solutions for clients. For example, the company can develop custom silicon solutions that hyper-optimize computing and performance for a specific task. Additionally, Alphawave sells silicon IP that enables companies to manufacture products like ethernet and multi-protocol controllers.
AMD develops some of the most advanced semiconductors in the market, which are used in high-end computers and other devices. In addition to its popular computer processors, the company also develops system-on-chip and field gateway programable arrays, or FPGAs. Though headquartered in California, AMD has a sizable presence in Canada, with offices in Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and other cities.
Headquartered in Toronto, Tenstorrent is a hardware and software company that develops solutions for AI and large language model, or LLM, developers. The company boasts AI and LLM semiconductors that are highly customizable and can effectively process large workloads. For clients not looking to own AI semiconductors, Tenstorrent also offers cloud computing services to handle such needs.
EPIC Semiconductors is a Canadian chip manufacturer with in-house design, rapid prototyping and production capabilities. One of its newest products is a 5G integrated processor equipped with pre-quantum superposition and AI capabilities. Another provides specialized computing power for blockchains.
Explore Our Canada Coverage
Built In Toronto | Built In Calgary | Built In Ottawa | Built In Vancouver |