The partnership began with a million nRF51822 chips distributed to UK Year 7 students. Today, the platform has evolved to use the nRF52833 SoC, introducing students to edge AI and professional-grade wireless connectivity. According to Gareth Stockdale, CEO of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, this early access to hardware helps demystify technology for a generation, often serving as the first step toward a career in engineering.
Nordic Semiconductor marks decade of powering BBC micro:bit
Ten years after the launch of the BBC micro:bit, the pocket-sized board has reached 73.5 million students across 85 countries. Nordic Semiconductor, which provided the wireless technology for the original 2016 rollout, remains the technical backbone of the project as the Micro:bit Educational Foundation targets 100 million users by 2028.
Nordic CEO Vegard Wollan emphasizes that the company views these classroom tools as a way to inspire future developers before they formalize their career paths. To deepen this connection, Nordic is hosting an interactive session at the Horten Tech Festival in Norway this October, where students can engage directly with the engineers behind their development boards. By bridging the gap between educational hardware and industrial IoT applications, the initiative aims to maintain a pipeline of talent while ensuring the company's technology remains a practical fixture in global classrooms.
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