SoftBank and Intel establish 'Saimemory' with the aim of developing a prototype of stacked DRAM for AI that can reduce power consumption by up to 50% within two years

SoftBank and Intel have launched a joint venture called Saimemory to develop a prototype DRAM unit that can match the performance of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) while halving power consumption.

[Exclusive] SoftBank, Intel, and the University of Tokyo to form AI semiconductor memory development company | TV Tokyo BIZ

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/SoftBank-Intel-work-on-AI-memory-chips-that-use-half-as-much-power

Intel eyes memory comeback with SoftBank-backed AI DRAM venture: report | Capacity Media
https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/intel-eyes-memory-comeback-with-softbank-backed-ai-dram-venture-report

SoftBank And Intel Set To Launch $70 Million AI Memory Project In Japan To Slash Power Use - Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) - Benzinga
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45716798/softbank-and-intel-set-to-launch-70-million-ai-memory-project-in-japan-to-slash-power-use

Intel reportedly investigates return to memory biz in Japan • The Register
https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/02/asian_tech_news_roundup/

Intel Reportedly Preparing HBM Alternative for AI Accelerators | TechPowerUp
https://www.techpowerup.com/337554/intel-reportedly-preparing-hbm-alternative-for-ai-accelerators

Intel and SoftBank collaborate on power-efficient HBM substitute for AI data centers, says report | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/intel-and-softbank-collaborate-on-power-efficient-hbm-substitute-for-ai-data-centers-says-report

Intel and Softbank explore alternative to HBM | Electronics Weekly
https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/intel-and-softbank-explore-alternative-to-hbm-2025-06/

Intel introduced the first commercial DRAM chips to the market, but market leadership shifted first to Japan and then South Korea, and Intel withdrew from the field in the mid-1980s, in what then-Intel CEO Andy Grove described as an 'emotional decision.'

Intel's involvement in the memory business did not end there, as it continued to develop NAND and SSD businesses until it was sold to SK Hynix in 2021. Optane, developed using 3D Xpoint technology, was also developed until July 2022, but has since been withdrawn from the market.

Saimemory was established jointly by Intel and SoftBank to develop low-power memory units for AI. Based on patents from Japanese academic institutions including the University of Tokyo, Saimemory aims to complete a memory prototype by 2027 and commercialize it by 2030. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Intel and SoftBank will invest $70 million (approximately 10 billion yen) in Saimemory. According to a report by TV Tokyo BIZ, SoftBank will invest approximately 3 billion yen at the start of Saimemory and become the largest shareholder, aiming to develop low-power, low-cost next-generation semiconductor memory using advanced technologies from Intel and the University of Tokyo.

Most existing AI processors use HBM because it is suitable for temporarily storing the huge amount of data processed by the GPU. However, although HBM has excellent bandwidth, it has the disadvantages of being complicated to manufacture, expensive, consuming large amounts of power, and generating heat quickly. To solve this problem, Saimemory was founded.

Registration information spotted by The Register also reveals that Samemory was founded in December 2024.

SAIMEMORY Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo) reputation, reviews, invoice registration number, company profile | Alarm Box
https://alarmbox.jp/companyinfo/entities/5010401187166

Saimemory plans to stack DRAM to improve the efficiency of internal wiring and reduce power consumption by up to 50% compared to HBM. This DRAM stacking technology appears to be developed by Intel in cooperation with the US Department of Defense. Saimemory is not the first to experiment with 3D stacked DRAM; Samsung has announced plans for 3D stacked DRAM in 2024, and NEO Semiconductor is also working on developing 3D X-DRAM. However, these companies are focusing on increasing capacity per chip, and not on reducing power consumption like Saimemory. According to TV Tokyo BIZ, Saimemory will also work on reducing costs using 'technology to exchange large amounts of data at high speed' owned by the University of Tokyo.

SoftBank is cooperating with the development of highly efficient AI memory because it wants priority access to chips for its own data centers. SoftBank has also launched the 'Stargate' project in collaboration with OpenAI to establish an AI data center in the United States, but it is unclear at the time of writing whether Samemory's memory will be used for Stargate.

OpenAI and SoftBank announce 'Stargate' project to establish AI data center with investment of over 70 trillion yen - GIGAZINE

Saimemory's research and development costs are expected to be around 15 billion yen, and it is being considered to outsource production to semiconductor manufacturers for the mass production stage. The Japanese government plans to invest more than 10 trillion yen in supporting the development and mass production of next-generation semiconductors and AI, and TV Tokyo BIZ reported that Saimemory may be one of the recipients of this support.

The existing HBM market is dominated by three companies: Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, but the surge in AI demand will give Intel an opportunity to enter the market, technology media Capacity Media points out. If Samemory memory becomes widespread as an alternative to HBM, 'Japan will become a major memory chip supplier for the first time in more than 20 years,' Tom's Hardware pointed out.