Hermann Hauser (b. 1948) — Biography & Facts

The Cambridge technology community has been shaped significantly by Hermann Hauser, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who arrived in England as a teenager to master the language. Since completing his doctoral research in physics at the Cavendish Laboratory, he has founded or co-founded numerous companies that became central to the British hardware and software innovation landscape.

Early Career and Acorn Computers

Born in Vienna in 1948, Hauser held a master’s degree from Vienna University before returning to King’s College, Cambridge. In 1978, he partnered with Chris Curry to establish Acorn Computers. Following Olivetti’s acquisition of Acorn in 1985, Hauser served as vice-president for research, later co-founding the Olivetti Research Laboratory with Andy Hopper in 1986. His contributions were eventually dramatized in the BBC production Micro Men.

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Ventures and Technological Development

Hauser’s career is marked by serial entrepreneurship, including the 1988 founding of the Active Book Company, which sought to develop a portable ARM-based device. In 1990, he played a role in spinning out Advanced RISC Machines, known as ARM, from Acorn. His other ventures include Advanced Telecommunication Modules Ltd, founded in 1993, and NetChannel Ltd, which was sold to AOL in 1996. By 1997, he co-founded the venture capital firm Amadeus Capital Partners.

Policy and Recognition

Hauser has exerted influence on UK policy, notably through a 2010 report commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that led to the creation of Catapult centres. He has received numerous honors for his work, including the Mountbatten Medal in 2000, the Lovelace Medal in 2011, and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2012. He was awarded a CBE for his services to the enterprise sector.

Current Initiatives

In recent years, Hauser has maintained his focus on emerging technologies. Since 2015, he has supported Austrian start-ups, including investments in USound and eyeson. In 2022, he expanded his involvement in quantum computing by investing in the Munich-based firm planqc and joining its advisory board. He continues to serve on various boards and policy advisory groups within the United Kingdom.

Fast facts

Born: 1948, Vienna, Austria
Education: King's College, Cambridge
Co-founded: Acorn Computers (1978)
Co-founded: Amadeus Capital Partners (1997)
Awarded: Mountbatten Medal (2000)
Awarded: Lovelace Medal (2011)
Elected: Fellow of the Royal Society (2012)
Appointed: Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Questions readers ask

What is Hermann Hauser's most significant contribution to computing?

He is primarily recognized for his role in co-founding Acorn Computers and for his involvement in spinning out Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) from that company.