Rocket One Inc., based in Hoboken, has entered a sponsored research agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to develop SKYMRAM, a magnetic memory technology utilizing skyrmions, which could have applications in artificial intelligence (AI) chips and advanced computing systems.
The one-year research initiative is set to commence on November 1, 2026, and will concentrate on areas such as nanoscale fabrication, materials optimization, and device-level testing. A significant milestone for the project will be demonstrating the switching capability of the soft magnetic layer used in SKYMRAM technology.
According to Rocket One, which is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker RKTO, this agreement provides a structured development program as it explores advanced semiconductor technologies aimed at AI infrastructure and defense applications.
Robb Knie, CEO of Rocket One, highlighted the importance of improving hardware for the next generation of AI computing. “Building the next generation of AI computing requires advances in the underlying hardware, including how information is stored and switched,” he stated. “This agreement establishes a concrete development path for SKYMRAM, with fabrication, characterization and switching milestones designed to test the technology at the device level. Our goal is to build the technical foundation for future chip architectures serving AI infrastructure, space, and defense.”
The research on SKYMRAM will focus on using nanoscale magnetic structures known as skyrmions to explore a new magnetic memory architecture. This initiative will study necessary material structures and switching behaviors to move toward potential semiconductor applications.
Work planned under the agreement includes patterning, etching, and characterization of magnetic material stacks designed to accommodate skyrmions, as well as developing thin-film structures for device testing and investigating the control of the soft magnetic layer. Researchers aim to refine structures that can host skyrmions approximately 100 nanometers in size.
VCU will oversee the project, led by principal investigator Jayasimha Atulasimha. The agreement also includes a sub-award to Northwestern University, which will assist in thin-film growth, materials characterization, and optimization, fostering collaboration between materials development and device testing.
The research will set quarterly objectives that range from initial material-stack fabrication and analysis to switching studies and refinement of nanoscale structures. Rocket One indicated that this effort will generate data to evaluate the technical feasibility of SKYMRAM and inform subsequent development steps.
It is important to note that this research focuses on foundational memory-device development and does not entail the creation of complete AI processors or confirmed system performance. Any potential applications in AI infrastructure, space, and defense will require further development and validation, including necessary tests for radiation tolerance.
The agreement also allows Rocket One to negotiate licenses for any intellectual property resulting from the project, according to its terms.
