Nordic Semiconductor's chips power BBC micro:bit for a decade
Nordic Semiconductor marks ten years of its technology powering the BBC micro:bit, an educational tool that has reached over 73 million young people globally.
OSLO, Norway – Nordic Semiconductor is celebrating a decade of its low-power wireless technology being at the core of the BBC micro:bit. This pocket-sized development board has introduced programming and digital creativity to approximately 73.5 million young people in over 85 countries, according to the Micro:bit Educational Foundation.
The initiative began in 2016 when one million micro:bit devices, equipped with Nordic's wireless technology, were distributed to schoolchildren across the UK. Today, the micro:bit is one of the most widely used tools globally for introducing young people to coding and digital making. The Foundation aims to reach 100 million young people by 2028.
The original micro:bit utilized Nordic's nRF51822 Bluetooth Low Energy System-on-Chip (SoC). The current micro:bit v2 features the nRF52833 multiprotocol SoC, offering enhanced wireless connectivity and enabling on-device AI capabilities. This ensures students are learning with technology that mirrors that used by professional engineers in consumer, industrial, and health applications.
Nordic Semiconductor CEO Vegard Wollan highlighted the program's success in making technology accessible and engaging. The company continues its commitment to STEM education, participating in events like the Horten Tech Festival in Norway to connect with aspiring young engineers and technologists.