By Li Panpan

The Chinese experts in RISV-V technology communities pointed out that the Chinese companies need to catch up with international players in high-performance System on Chip (SoC) IP and related engineering capabilities to be independent in the RISC-V field instead of taking the free ride using the open-source system.

An academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) told JW Insights that the Chinese players have been quite active in the RISC-V community, accounting for a high proportion of the RISC-V Foundation membership list in the U.S. However, many of them are content with the community’s open-source resources instead of developing high-quality technology. It contains high risks if they continue to take the “free ride” instead of taking the steering wheel to control speed and direction.  

Some Chinese software developers claimed breakthroughs based on the Linux open-source system. They have experienced problems because the original overseas developers stopped upgrading the open-source system. The recent block of Russia by many open-source communities because of the Russian-Ukrainian war also reflects the risks of using open-source systems. 

According to press reports, Chinese research institutes, enterprises, and universities have formed their RISC-V community. For example, SiFive has a branch in Shanghai, and there is also Patterson Laboratory (RISC-V Foundation Open Source Laboratory) of Tsinghua-Berkeley Research Institute in Shenzhen. Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has also participated in-depth, with researcher Bao Yungang being selected as a director of the RISC-V Foundation.

“Despite remarkable progress, the Chinese players and policies still lag in the RISC-V field. Although it is open-source, it’s still a long way to go in R&D, industrialization, and specific products,” added CAS academician. 

With strong potential in the RISC-V architecture driven by international players such as SiFive, Chinese companies need to be clear-minded and catch up with global players in high-performance SoC IP and related engineering capabilities to be independent in the RISC-V field. 

Founded in 2015, SiFive is a fabless semiconductor company and provider of RISC-V processor designs. Its senior executives have been elected as the president of the RISC-V Foundation. 

It was reported on March 14 that it would sell its OpenFive business unit for $210 million to Canadian semiconductor licensing company Alphawave, signaling profound changes in the future RISC-V ecosystem. The unit was created in 2020 to focus on processor-agnostic custom System on Chip (SoC) design.

Alphawave said the acquisition will nearly double the number of related IPs for its customers from 80 to 155, expanding its connectivity and SoC portfolio and capabilities.