Pragmatic Semiconductor is celebrating its 15th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in the development and commercialisation of flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs). Founded in 2010 with the goal of rethinking what is possible in flexible electronics, the company has grown from a small deep-tech start-up into one of the sector’s most prominent pioneers.
Pragmatic set out to develop an alternative to conventional silicon semiconductors: ultra-thin, bendable, cost-optimised chips that can be produced quickly and integrated into applications where rigid silicon is impractical. Fifteen years later, the company’s FlexIC technology is deployed across packaging, logistics, wearable devices, healthcare and emerging smart-infrastructure concepts.
CTO and co-founder Dr Richard Price says the company’s culture has played a crucial role in its progress. “In the early years, with a small team and limited resources, we had no choice but to work efficiently and think outside the box. That spirit of teamwork and openness extended to partners and collaborators, and we’ve worked hard to preserve those values as we’ve grown.”
Scaling deep-tech from laboratory to high-volume manufacturing
Pragmatic’s journey reflects the long development cycles typical of advanced materials and semiconductor innovation. The company has shifted from R&D to pilot lines and is now scaling up flexible semiconductor manufacturing at its UK-based FlexIC Foundry.
CEO David Moore, who joined in 2023, highlights the company’s recent momentum: “It’s incredibly exciting to be leading Pragmatic’s mission to deliver flexible semiconductor technology at scale. The potential impact on global customers, people’s lives and the planet is significant.”
The company’s manufacturing model is central to its sustainability message. Pragmatic uses a low-temperature, low-energy process that requires fewer chemicals and substantially less water than conventional semiconductor fabrication. Each production line occupies only around 600m², allowing for modular expansion and potentially decentralised chip production.
Sustainability and performance in parallel
From its inception, Pragmatic has emphasised that sustainability and innovation must develop hand in hand. SVP Technology Dr Catherine Ramsdale, one of the company’s earliest employees, notes that the FlexIC Foundry now delivers custom chips in weeks rather than months. “Our technology continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of performance and form factor to bring intelligence to everyday objects,” she says.
People and partnerships at the core
Pragmatic credits its progress to a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technologists and industry specialists who have driven the development of its flexible semiconductor platform. This foundation, combined with partnerships across supply chains and end-use sectors, has enabled the company to move closer to high-volume production and real-world deployment at scale.
As Pragmatic expands its facilities, strengthens partnerships and advances its technology roadmap, the company expects flexible electronics to play an increasing role in large-scale digitalisation and in lowering the carbon footprint of semiconductor use. With its 15-year milestone reached, Pragmatic says it remains committed to making electronics more accessible, sustainable and broadly deployable — and to continuing its investment in UK manufacturing as the flexible-electronics market accelerates.