IoT Security Foundation brings industry leaders together at SEMICON Europa to tackle one of the most important questions in hardware cybersecurity: what will it take to make CHERI a mainstream technology?

The IoT Security Foundation (IoTSF) will play a prominent role at CHERITech’26, bringing together leading figures from the semiconductor, cybersecurity and technology industries for a panel discussion examining the barriers to widespread adoption of CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions).

Taking place on 12th–13th November 2026 at Messe München, alongside Electronica and SEMICON Europa, CHERITech’26 brings together the organisations and experts developing the next generation of secure computing technologies.

As a founding member of the CHERI Alliance, the IoT Security Foundation has a strong interest in advancing the adoption of hardware-enabled cybersecurity. Its participation reflects the Foundation’s commitment to bringing together technology developers, security specialists and industry stakeholders to help turn security innovation into practical, deployable solutions.

From technical innovation to mainstream adoption

CHERI represents a significant advance in computer security, introducing hardware-enforced memory protection and compartmentalisation capabilities designed to address some of the most persistent vulnerabilities in modern software systems.

With growing attention on secure-by-design principles, software memory safety and the resilience of connected products and critical infrastructure, CHERI offers a potentially transformative approach to addressing security weaknesses at their source.

However, technical capability alone does not guarantee widespread market adoption.

That is the central question behind the IoT Security Foundation’s panel discussion:

‘What is missing for CHERI to be widely adopted?’

Chaired by Christopher Bennison of the IoT Security Foundation, the discussion will bring together perspectives from technology development, commercial deployment, industry collaboration and government-backed adoption programmes.

The panel will feature:

– Javier Orensanz Martinez – CEO, lowRISC: Bringing extensive semiconductor industry experience and expertise in open silicon, secure hardware and memory-safe computing

– Joshua Cooper – CEO, Hildebrand Technology Limited: Offering a commercial and end-user perspective from the energy technology sector, including the practical realities of deploying connected technologies

– Manu Ravishankar – Principal Consultant, PA Consulting: Bringing experience as the designer and delivery lead of the UK’s CHERI Secure by Design Managed Deployment Programme, focused on accelerating real-world adoption

– Mike Eftimakis – Founding Director, CHERI Alliance: Providing strategic insight into the development of the CHERI ecosystem and the collaboration needed to support broader industry adoption

Together, they will explore the commercial, technical and organisational challenges standing between CHERI’s potential and its adoption at scale.

Addressing the barriers that matter to industry

The discussion will move beyond the technical merits of CHERI to confront the practical questions facing organisations considering the technology.

Why has CHERI not yet become an obvious purchasing decision for mainstream businesses? Are concerns around cost, performance, compatibility and skills holding back adoption? And who needs to take the next step to create a viable, scalable market?

The panel will also examine the respective responsibilities of semiconductor manufacturers, software developers, toolchain providers, standards bodies, governments and customers in building an ecosystem capable of supporting widespread deployment.

Importantly, the conversation will draw on experience from real-world programmes, customer engagements and emerging implementations, helping to identify the actions that could make the greatest difference over the next 12 months.

Connecting cybersecurity innovation with industry adoption

For the IoT Security Foundation, the discussion goes to the heart of its mission: improving the security of connected products and systems by promoting stronger security practices across the technology lifecycle.

As cybersecurity expectations continue to evolve, the industry must look beyond identifying vulnerabilities and towards technologies that can prevent entire classes of security weaknesses.

CHERI has the potential to make an important contribution to that shift. But realising that potential requires collaboration across the entire technology ecosystem, from semiconductor design and software development to product manufacturers, commercial customers and policymakers.

Through its involvement in the CHERI Alliance and its leadership of this discussion, the IoT Security Foundation is helping connect the cybersecurity community with the organisations responsible for translating emerging technologies into commercially viable products and systems.

The challenge is no longer simply to demonstrate what CHERI can do, but to establish what industry needs to do to make it widely available, accessible and commercially compelling.

Join the discussion at CHERITech’26

CHERITech’26 takes place on 12th–13th November 2026, at the NextSEMI Arena, Hall B0, Messe München, as part of Electronica and SEMICON Europa.

The IoT Security Foundation panel, ‘What is missing for CHERI to be widely adopted?’, takes place on Thursday 12th November at 15:25 CET.

The conference will feature technical presentations, industry case studies, live demonstrations and discussions covering CHERI-enabled hardware, software, memory safety, standardisation and real-world deployment.

Attendance at CHERITech’26 is free for SEMICON Europa visitors, although separate registration is required.

Click HERE to find out more and register.