Flash Memory Summit is an annual conference and expo focused on the flash memory industry. It brings together experts from across the storage, memory, and technology sectors to discuss the latest advancements and trends in flash memory and storage technology.
When and where is Flash Memory Summit held?
Flash Memory Summit is typically held in early to mid-August each year at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California. The multi-day event usually runs from Monday through Thursday.
The first Flash Memory Summit was held in 2006. Since then, it has been held annually at the Santa Clara venue. In 2020, the event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, Flash Memory Summit returned to an in-person format in Santa Clara.
Who attends Flash Memory Summit?
Flash Memory Summit attracts thousands of attendees from across the technology industry each year. Key demographics include:
- Flash memory and storage engineers and technologists
- Research and development professionals
- Product managers and marketing professionals
- Academics and students
- C-level executives and venture capitalists
- IT and data center professionals
- Systems architects and designers
- Embedded systems developers
- Automotive engineers
- Government and military technology professionals
In essence, Flash Memory Summit brings together a diverse mix of technical and business professionals with a shared interest in the applications and future of flash storage and memory technology.
What is the focus and agenda of the event?
As the name suggests, Flash Memory Summit focuses on the latest trends, developments, and future directions in the flash memory and storage industry. Some key focus areas include:
- NAND flash memory technology
- Flash-based SSDs (solid state drives)
- Emerging non-volatile memories like 3D XPoint
- Flash storage applications like data centers, mobile, and embedded systems
- Flash controllers and interface technology like NVMe
- Storage networking and interconnects like Fibre Channel and Ethernet
- Flash manufacturing, packaging, and test
- Flash reliability, endurance, and lifespan
- Storage software like flash virtualization and caching
The agenda spans a wide range of sessions and speaking formats:
- Keynotes: Visionary keynotes from leading experts and luminaries in the flash storage industry.
- Technical sessions: In-depth technical presentations on R&D, engineering, and design topics.
- Business and marketplace sessions: Discussions on commercialization, go-to-market strategies, and business development.
- Panel discussions: Lively panel format with multiple viewpoints on key issues and debates.
- Tutorials: Educational tutorials on flash storage tech fundamentals and basics.
- Analyst presentations: Market research findings, forecasts, and trends from industry analysts.
- Exhibitor presentations: Overviews of the latest flash products, demos, and solutions.
What are some highlights of recent Flash Memory Summits?
Some notable highlights and announcements from recent Flash Memory Summits include:
- 2022: Key themes included computational storage, storage class memory, and NVMe updates. Major vendors announced new SSD form factors like EDSFF and rulers.
- 2021: Continued transition to NVMe, PCIe 5.0, and new interconnects. Emergence of storage class memory like CXL memory and compute express link.
- 2020 (virtual): Remote keynotes and sessions focused on NVMe-oF, trends in flash controller architecture, and machine learning for data analytics.
- 2019: Several demonstrations of 112Gb 3D NAND flash chips, updates on NVMe, FC-NVMe, and TCP bridges. Discussion of 5G networks enabling new flash storage capabilities.
- 2018: Emergence of NVDIMMs, presentation on Flash DIMMs combining flash with DRAM. Updates on NVMe over Fabrics. Discussion of in-storage processing using FPGAs with SSDs.
In summary, recent Flash Memory Summits have highlighted migrations to new interconnects like NVMe and PCIe 4.0/5.0, innovative form factors for ultra-high density flash, and the combination of flash memory with new technologies like CXL and in-storage compute.
What companies participate in Flash Memory Summit?
Many leading technology companies actively participate in Flash Memory Summit each year. Key participating companies include:
- Flash and SSD vendors: Samsung, Western Digital, Micron, SK Hynix, Kioxia
- NAND manufacturers: Toshiba, Intel/IMFlash
- Storage Device Makers: Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital
- Flash Controller Developers: Phison, Silicon Motion, Marvell
- Solid State Drive Makers: Kingston, ADATA, Apacer
- Fab Equipment Suppliers: Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA Corporation
- IP and Design Services Firms: Rambus, Northwest Logic
- Packaging and Test Service Providers: Amkor, STATS ChipPAC
- Interconnect Companies: Broadcom, Microchip, Intel, Marvell
- Software and Analytics Firms: CNEX Labs, DensBits, ScaleFlux
Along with vendors and suppliers, research institutions and technical consortiums like IEEE and SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association) also actively participate.
The wide range of companies underscores how Flash Memory Summit covers the full flash storage ecosystem – from semiconductor fabrication all the way up to end-user SSDs and applications.
What new technologies and products have been launched at Flash Memory Summit?
Many companies announce and showcase breakthrough flash memory technologies and products for the first time publicly at Flash Memory Summit. Some notable Flash Memory Summit launches over the years include:
- Intel and Micron’s first demonstration of 3D XPoint non-volatile memory technology in 2015 – a major breakthrough in storage class memory.
- Western Digital demonstrated a 1TB microSDXC card for mobile devices in 2019, the highest capacity microSD card at that time.
- Seagate previewed heat-assisted magnetic recording technology in 2015 using lasers and magnetics for ~10TB HDDs.
- Samsung introduced the first 24-layer V-NAND SSDs in 2015, then launched 4-bit per cell QLC NAND flash in 2018.
- Toshiba Memory unveiled XL-FLASH memory architecture in 2019 for ultra-low latency SSDs for servers and data centers.
- In 2016, Micron launched the 5210 ION SSD – the first to use QLC NAND flash technology.
These launches illustrate how Flash Memory Summit offers tech firms a premier industry venue to demonstrate breakthrough storage tech innovations.
What future technology trends are discussed at Flash Memory Summit?
Flash Memory Summit offers a cutting-edge glimpse into the future landscape of memory and storage technology. Some key trends and technologies discussed at recent events include:
- Storage Class Memory (SCM): Emerging memory technologies like Intel’s 3D XPoint that bridge the gap between DRAM and storage.
- NVDIMMs: Non-volatile DIMMs that combine flash with DRAM for faster performance and data persistence.
- NVMe-oF: NVMe over Fabrics allows NVMe to be used over networks like Ethernet, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand.
- Computational Storage: Processing compute capabilities directly inside SSDs to run algorithms close to data.
- Machine Learning: Using ML and AI algorithms to optimize flash storage management, analytics, and data placement.
- New Interconnects: Leveraging PCIe 5.0, new form factors like EDSFF and ruler SSDs, and protocols like CXL and Gen-Z.
These emerging storage technologies promise to push the envelope on performance, capacity, latency, and data capabilities for future applications.
What are the educational and professional benefits of attending?
Attending Flash Memory Summit offers attendees a wealth of educational and professional benefits including:
- Learning about cutting-edge NAND flash implementations directly from industry leaders and experts.
- Gaining early insight into upcoming storage tech like SCM, NVDIMMs, and NVMe-oF.
- Keeping up-to-date on the competitive flash storage technology landscape.
- Hearing perspectives from luminaries and visionaries on the future of flash memory.
- Attending deep-dive technical sessions on engineering breakthroughs.
- Seeing live demonstrations of the latest flash memory technologies and products.
- Networking with flash storage peers and luminaries across the ecosystem.
- Meeting vendors and evaluating potential flash memory technologies for your company.
In summary, Flash Memory Summit offers a targeted environment to learn about cutting-edge advancements in flash storage tech and connect with industry leaders driving future innovation.
How can I register to attend Flash Memory Summit?
Registration for Flash Memory Summit is open to both industry professionals and the public. Here are the key details on registering:
- Early bird registration usually opens 6-8 months before the event dates in August.
- Various pricing tiers are available including all-access passes, expo-only, and single-day rates.
- Group discounts are offered for teams of 3+ from the same company.
- Registration is available online via the Flash Memory Summit website. Payment can be made via credit card or bank transfer.
- Proof of industry credentials is required for any discounted media, analyst, academic, or exhibitor rates.
- Registration includes access to exhibits, sessions, keynotes, proceedings, and evening events.
- Book hotels early, as rooms near the venue fill up fast each year.
Registering early ensures the lowest rates. Multi-day and all-access passes offer the most value and opportunity to experience everything Flash Memory Summit has to offer across the days of the conference.
Conclusion
In summary, Flash Memory Summit is the leading annual conference covering the latest trends and emerging technologies in the flash memory and storage industry. Leading companies and experts come together each year in Santa Clara to showcase cutting-edge advancements in NAND flash, SSDs, and future storage innovations. For anyone interested in learning about the forefront of flash memory tech and connecting with industry luminaries, Flash Memory Summit offers an unparalleled technical education and networking experience.