Salience Labs, a start-up focused on accelerating and making AI data centre operations more energy-efficient, has moved into a new premises at Milton Park business campus in Oxfordshire.
The company will utilise the 6,700 square feet research and development facility at 100 Park Drive to develop photonic switches that manage and route data traffic for complex computing infrastructure.
The firm has secured £41 million in funding to date, with support from investors including Oxford Science Enterprises. The company’s technology is based on research originating from the University of Oxford and the University of Münster. The move to Milton Park represents a significant increase in workspace, more than tripling their previous office size and offering enlarged optical laboratory facilities for its workforce of over 50 staff members.
The team is currently developing optical switching technology in the new space to address two primary limitations in computing: latency (response delays) and power usage. Their methodology keeps data in the form of light, avoiding the repeated conversion to and from electrical signals, which reduces delays and decreases the power needed for large-scale operations.
A spokesperson for the company said: “At Salience Labs, we’re developing optical switches that unlock higher performance and energy efficiency for next-generation AI infrastructure. As models grow in scale and complexity, breakthroughs in compute and networking aren’t just a nice to have – they’re essential. To develop this, we need a custom-built home, and Milton Park has given us the opportunity to design this from the ground up. It stood out for its fully developed ecosystem, extensive facilities and the capacity to enable future expansion as we grow. We’re excited to tap into the hotbed of talent it enables.”
Tom Booker, the park’s commercial manager, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Salience Labs to Milton Park. The team’s work in Silicon Photonics is an exciting addition to our community and especially the Park’s growing optics, AI and quantum cluster. By choosing 100 Park Drive for its new HQ, Salience can take advantage of Milton Park’s location and access to top talent. We wish the team all the best as they settle into their new base.”
Image source: Milton Park
