From Collaboration to Breakthrough: How Adiuvo and Japeto Are Shaping the Future of AI in Space Tech

Two members of the Arise Harlow innovation community, Adiuvo Engineering & Training Ltd and Japeto, have joined forces to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in modern electronics design: FPGA verification. Their collaboration has been awarded an Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) grant under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Discovery Programme, enabling the development of Certiqo.ai, an AI-driven verification platform for FPGA and HDL code.

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are reconfigurable integrated circuits widely used in aerospace, robotics, automotive, and medical systems. Unlike traditional processors, FPGAs deliver deterministic, real-time performance and exceptional energy efficiency, making them indispensable for mission-critical applications. However, as designs grow in complexity, verifying FPGA functionality has become a major bottleneck. Industry data reveals that 84% of FPGA designs reach production with at least one significant bug, often causing costly delays or failures.

Certiqo.ai aims to revolutionize FPGA verification by combining artificial intelligence with requirements-based methodologies. The platform will automatically map design requirements to test coverage, identify verification gaps, and interpret HDL code alongside documentation. This intelligent approach promises faster, more rigorous validation, reducing risk and improving reliability for systems where failure is not an option.

A prototype has already demonstrated feasibility, and with ESA’s backing, the project will advance toward:

While the initiative is rooted in ESA’s commitment to safer space electronics, its benefits extend to aerospace, automotive, and industrial control, sectors where reliability and compliance are paramount. As Adam Taylor, Founder of Adiuvo, explains:

“We’re thrilled to receive ESA’s support to advance Certiqo.ai. AI can play a transformative role in improving design assurance for next-generation mission-critical systems.”

Japeto’s CEO Ingrid Folland adds:

“Our collaboration with ESA allows us to push FPGA verification beyond traditional methods and move toward an intelligent, requirements-aware future.”

Dr Beverley Vaughan, Director at Arise Innovation Hubs, says:

“We are delighted to see the collaboration of two businesses key to the ever-advancing space sector in the UK.  Field Programmable Gate Array technology (FPGA) is critical to operating in the harsh environment of space, dealing with radiation, extreme temperatures and the ability to extend a mission’s life span remotely.  Japeto bring their expertise in AI and programming, while Adiuvo bring a wealth of experience in FPGA; creating the best solutions for space technology. It really is to infinity and beyond!”

Over the coming year, Adiuvo and Japeto will mature Certiqo.ai into a production-ready environment, validate it on representative space mission designs, and engage early adopters to refine usability.

For more information, visit www.certiqo.ai or contact [email protected].