Dr Hermann Hauser KBE FREng FRS

For over thirty years, Hermann Hauser has contributed to the translation of science into business. As a science-based innovator and serial entrepreneur, Hermann has successfully developed and financed over 100 high-tech companies whilst offering inspiration and mentorship to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

He is best known for setting up Acorn Computers — developer of the iconic ‘BBC Micro’ — in 1978 and its spin-out, microchip design company ARM Holdings, in 1990. He went on to co-found Amadeus Capital Partners in 1997, a venture capital company through which he has built several technology companies. These include Solexa, a next-generation DNA sequencing firm that was sold to biotech giant Illumina for $600 million in 2007 and CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio)which was sold for $2.5bn to Qualcomm.

In 2001, Hermann received an honorary CBE for his innovative service to the UK enterprise sector and an honorary KBE in 2015. As the author of a 2010 influential report, he called for the UK government’s investment in a network of technology and innovation centres. This led to the creation of ‘Catapult’ centres, which are helping small firms and university spin-outs to commercialise their prototypes.

Hermann is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Royal Academy of Engineering and an Honorary Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. In 2004 he was made a member of the Government’s Council for Science and Technology and in 2013 he was made a Distinguished Fellow of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. 

Hermann has honorary doctorates from the Universities of Loughborough, Bath, Anglia Ruskin, The University of Strathclyde, and the university of Glasgow.

Professional position

  • Co-founder, Amadeus Capital Partners Limited (Cambridge), Amadeus Capital Partners Limited

Subject groups

  • Computer sciences

    Computer science (excl engineering aspects)

  • Engineering

    Computer engineering (including software)

  • Other

    Other interests

Dr Hermann Hauser KBE FREng FRS
Elected 2012