Cardiff, Wales – 3 March 2025 – SmallSpark, a company previously focused on space-sector applications, is now broadening its technical and product offerings by bringing ultra-low-power machine learning solutions to a wide range of industries, from aerospace and defence to healthcare and manufacturing. To showcase this expanded vision, the company has launched a pilot programme granting select enterprises early access to its next-generation computing and machine learning ecosystem. Through this programme, participants will trial SmallSpark’s end-to-end solution, comprising the CORTEX software platform and AXON hardware, to experience the transformative impact of localised, intelligent data processing at the edge.
The company also pleased to announce that it has seen significant traction for its new product line, having already begun to onboard multiple major companies to its pilot program across aerospace, finance and semiconductors in advance of launch; those interested in accessing the pilot can request access here.
A key feature of SmallSpark’s ecosystem is its philosophy of driving the energy consumption of machine learning models down to single-watt and even milliwatt scales. This is achieved by combining the intelligent copute hardware on SmallSpark’s AXON edge device with advanced optimisations and innovatively designed machine learning models within the CORTEX platform. As a result, ML applications that previously required large amounts of power, such as predictive maintenance, real-time anomaly detection, and localised large language models, can now be deployed with minimal energy overhead. This shift from energy-intensive, cloud-reliant systems to more autonomous, low-power edge devices clears the path for mass-scale, distributed AI across industries.
Addressing the Fractured Edge Ecosystem
While demand for edge-based solutions grows, the current landscape remains fragmented, with vendors offering isolated hardware, disparate platforms, and limited support for real-world deployment at scale. In contrast, SmallSpark integrates hardware, software, and management tools into an end-to-end ecosystem that alleviates the complexities of adopting machine learning at the edge. This holistic approach eliminates the need to juggle multiple technologies and ensures seamless compatibility across diverse environments, ultimately reducing both deployment costs and time-to-market.
Key Technologies and Products
- CORTEX: A comprehensive software platform enabling the training, optimisation, deployment, and ongoing management of machine learning models at the edge.
- AXON: SmallSpark’s proprietary hardware, optimised to deliver high-performance processing under stringent power constraints, making real-time analytics feasible in remote or demanding settings.
Why Edge Computing Matters
Moving intelligence to edge devices, rather than relying solely on centralised data centres, enables lightning-fast response times, improved reliability, and significant reductions in power consumption. SmallSpark’s ecosystem champions low-energy, distributed machine learning that supports an ever-expanding array of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. By processing data closer to its source, businesses gain more immediate insights, reduce operational overheads, and build platforms that remain resilient even when network coverage is limited or intermittent.
The pilot programme will run for a limited period, during which participants will receive personalised onboarding, technical support, and performance reviews from SmallSpark’s engineering and customer success teams. Organisations interested in early access to the ecosystem are encouraged to apply here.
About SmallSpark
SmallSpark is an emerging leader in ultra-low-power machine learning solutions for edge computing. Founded by Joseph Ward (CEO) and Saif Al-Ibadi (Co-Founder and Technical Lead), the company develops integrated software and hardware platforms that enable intelligent, real-time data processing. SmallSpark is committed to advancing next-generation computing architectures that drive innovation, optimise resource usage, and empower transformative use cases across industries.
For more information, please visit www.smallspark.uk or email enquiries@smallspark.uk