#South Korea #Seoul #SEMIFIVE #Niobium #FHE Accelerator

SEMIFIVE Partners with Niobium to Drive Innovation in Encrypted Computing

Introduction
On February 19, 2026, SEMIFIVE, a prominent global supplier of customizable AI semiconductor (ASIC) solutions, announced a pivotal collaboration with Niobium, a notable player in the field of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) hardware mechanisms. This partnership is expected to significantly advance SEMIFIVE's ambitions within the U.S. market, reinforcing its position as a trusted ally in the highly specialized realm of system-on-chip (SoC) design.

A Significant Investment
The newly forged agreement, valued at approximately KRW 10 billion (around USD 6.86 million), focuses on the development of Niobium's cutting-edge FHE hardware accelerator. The initiative aims to be among the first of its kind to achieve commercial viability, enabling computational efficiency on encrypted data—an essential advancement for modern cloud computing and AI infrastructures.

FHE: The Future of Secure Computation
FHE stands at the forefront of secure computing technology, allowing enterprises to perform calculations directly on encrypted data. This feature is increasingly crucial as businesses prioritize privacy protection, particularly concerning sensitive data in AI-driven applications and private cloud services. Niobium’s new accelerator is specifically designed to enhance processing capabilities while outperforming traditional software encryption methods.

Technology and Process Innovations
The development of this advanced chip will utilize Samsung Foundry's state-of-the-art 8nm Low Power Ultimate (8LPU) process technology. SEMIFIVE's comprehensive ASIC solution equips Niobium with everything needed to expedite the introduction of its FHE accelerator into the market. This encompasses tailored design services, packaging, testing, and effective supply chain management, all crucial elements to ensure successful product deployment.

Leadership Insights
Kevin Yoder, CEO of Niobium, emphasized the transformative potential of encrypted computation, stating, "Once enterprises can compute directly on encrypted data at fast enough speeds, processing sensitive information in the clear will no longer be acceptable." He underscores the partnership's role in moving from theoretical prototypes to functional accelerators ready for real-world applications.

Brandon Cho, SEMIFIVE's CEO and co-founder, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: "Niobium is at the forefront of encrypted computation, and their FHE accelerator platform represents one of the most important emerging architectures in privacy-first computing. We are committed to helping them in manufacturing this technological innovation into a sellable product through our proven SoC development capabilities."

Taejoong Song, Samsung Electronics’ vice president, also commented on the significance of the venture. He stated, "Encrypted computation will play an increasingly critical role in the future of AI and cloud systems. Through Samsung Foundry's advanced process technology and SAFE™ ecosystem, we are proud to support SEMIFIVE and Niobium as they introduce cutting-edge private computing silicon to global markets."

Conclusion
This partnership not only marks a pivotal moment for SEMIFIVE in its U.S. market strategy but also sets a new standard for FHE technology within the industry. The implications of this collaboration stretch far into the future, highlighting a compelling shift towards enhanced data protection and privacy in the rapidly evolving world of computing.

For more information about SEMIFIVE and its innovations in semiconductor technologies, visit www.semifive.com. Learn more about Niobium's progress on niobiummicro.com.