SPARK Microsystems, a Canadian fabless semiconductor company focused on short-range wireless communications, has received the Product Innovation Award from Canada’s Semiconductor Council (CSC) for its SR1120 LE-UWB wireless transceiver.
The recognition was presented at the CHIPS NORTH Executive Summit in Ottawa as part of the Semiconductor Achievement Awards, which highlight companies and individuals contributing to innovation across Canada’s semiconductor ecosystem. The Product Innovation Award specifically recognizes the commercialization of new semiconductor technologies that address strong market demand.
The CSC represents Canada’s broader semiconductor ecosystem, including chip designers, manufacturers, research institutions, government labs, and universities. The council plays a central role in advancing national semiconductor strategy and strengthening Canada’s position in global embedded electronics development.
SPARK Microsystems joined the CSC in 2023 and has been working to advance ultra-low-power wireless communication technologies. The company’s SR1120 LE-UWB transceiver is designed to address limitations in legacy wireless standards such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, particularly in applications requiring deterministic performance and low-latency communication.
Paul Slaby, Managing Director of the CSC, said SPARK’s technology stands out for its ability to overcome long-standing constraints in connected devices. He noted that innovations enabling higher performance and lower power consumption are increasingly important as artificial intelligence expands across edge devices and connected systems.
Frederic Nabki, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SPARK Microsystems, said the award reflects growing demand for next-generation wireless connectivity solutions. He emphasized that AI-era devices require predictable and deterministic wireless performance, which traditional standards were not designed to deliver.
The SR1120 LE-UWB transceiver is positioned as a high-performance alternative to conventional wireless protocols. According to the company, it delivers up to 40 times higher data throughput than Bluetooth while consuming approximately 25 times less power and reducing latency by up to 60 times. Compared with Wi-Fi, it offers significantly lower latency and up to 100 times lower power consumption.
The company also highlights performance advantages over existing ultra-wideband solutions used primarily for ranging and positioning. The SR1120 maintains comparable ranging capabilities while consuming up to 100 times less power.
SPARK Microsystems said the recognition underscores its role in advancing Canada’s semiconductor innovation landscape. The company is focused on expanding the adoption of its LE-UWB technology across consumer electronics, industrial systems, and emerging AI-driven edge applications where efficiency and deterministic connectivity are increasingly critical.
