As cyber threats increasingly target critical infrastructure, defence systems, and national economies, Astute is representing pioneering UK technology companies developing the next generation of hardware-rooted cybersecurity and cyber resilience solutions.
Astute is bringing some of the UK’s most advanced and strategically important cybersecurity technologies to Hardware Pioneers Max 2026, showcasing breakthrough innovations developed to protect critical infrastructure, defence systems, and national security applications against rapidly evolving cyber threats. Developed by pioneering UK cyber innovators at the forefront of secure silicon design, these technologies are helping redefine how resilient embedded systems are built for the next generation of connected devices and critical infrastructure.
“Cybersecurity can no longer be treated as a software-only problem. As connected systems become more complex and increasingly targeted, the industry needs to move towards security designed directly into the hardware from the outset,” says Andrew Parker, Semiconductor TBDM, Astute Group. “SCI Semiconductor’s CHERI-enabled ICENI devices and Quantum Dice’s verified quantum entropy technology represent two highly innovative UK approaches to solving some of the most fundamental security challenges in embedded systems. By bringing these technologies together, we’re helping customers build resilient platforms that combine secure processing, trusted encryption, and long-term cyber assurance for critical applications.”
Cyberattacks are estimated to cost the UK economy £14.7 billion annually, while 43% of businesses reported security breaches in the last year alone, reports the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. At the same time, around 70% of security vulnerabilities originate from memory-safety flaws, exposing the growing limitations of traditional software-based security approaches.
At the forefront of this shift is UK company SCI Semiconductor, developer of the ICENI™ family of highly secure 32-bit microcontrollers built using CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions) technology. Designed specifically for low-power embedded and edge applications, ICENI introduces hardware-enforced memory safety and robust software compartmentalisation directly into the processor architecture.
Rather than attempting to detect or patch vulnerabilities after deployment, CHERI technology eliminates entire classes of memory-safety exploits at the hardware level. By replacing traditional memory pointers with secure “capabilities,” software can only access explicitly authorised memory regions, significantly reducing attack surfaces and preventing lateral movement during an attack.
This secure-by-design approach is becoming increasingly important as industries prepare for stricter cybersecurity regulation, including the European Cyber Resilience Act. ICENI devices have been architected specifically with these future requirements in mind, while also maintaining deterministic real-time performance, low power consumption, and pin-compatibility with legacy microcontroller platforms to simplify migration towards memory-safe computing.
Complementing SCI Semiconductor’s secure processing architecture is the advanced quantum entropy technology developed by fellow UK innovator Quantum Dice. For sectors requiring the highest grade encryption assurance — including defence, national security, finance, and energy infrastructure — the quality of cryptographic keys is critical.
Today, most random numbers used for encryption are generated either through software-based Pseudo-Random Number Generators (PRNGs) or classical True Random Number Generators (TRNGs). PRNGs are fast but deterministic, producing reproducible sequences based on mathematical seed values. TRNGs, while non-deterministic, typically rely on physical phenomena that are neither continuously measured nor monitored, creating the potential for weak or degraded entropy over time.
Quantum Dice addresses this challenge through a system-on-module quantum random number generator (QRNG) capable of generating high-speed quantum entropy with continuously verified output quality. Using its patented DISCTM protocol, the solution measures and validates entropy in real time, ensuring weak or compromised keys can be identified and eliminated before use.
The technology’s output is compliant with NIST SP 800-90B and has been validated using statistical test suites such as Dieharder.
Together, SCI Semiconductor and Quantum Dice represent a new generation of hardware-rooted cybersecurity — combining trusted execution, hardware-enforced memory safety, and verified cryptographic entropy within future secure embedded platforms. As embedded systems become increasingly connected and autonomous, these technologies provide the foundation for resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding both current and emerging cyber threats.
Visitors to Hardware Pioneers Max 2026 will have the opportunity to discuss how CHERI-enabled memory safety, verified quantum entropy, and secure-by-design hardware architectures can support future programmes across defence, industrial, communications, and critical national infrastructure applications.
By working with pioneering technology companies at the forefront of hardware cybersecurity, Astute continues to help customers navigate the transition towards more resilient, future-ready electronic systems designed to meet the security demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Consult with the Pioneers
SCI Semiconductor will be joining Astute Group at Hardware Pioneers Max to discuss your critical cyber security projects.
Secure a meeting by booking a 1-to-1 meeting with our technical experts.
Venue: Hardware Pioneers Max, ExCel London
Dates: June 10-11, 2026
