The US may limit processor developers’ access to open architecture

Russian microelectronics developers plan to release the first samples of processors based on the open RISC-V architecture in 2025; mass production can be launched after 2026. Currently, developments on the architecture are being carried out, in particular, by Yadro and Baikal Electronics. However, projects in this area depend on interaction with the international RISC-V communities. And it was under threat. American officials are already asking to limit the participation of Chinese companies in such alliances; difficulties may also arise for Russian developers.

Kommersant got acquainted with the “road map for the development of RISC-V architecture in Russia”, which was prepared by the RISC-V Alliance (its board includes representatives of Baikal Electronics, Sintakor, Aquarius, etc.). The document is scheduled to be presented on October 12 at the “RISC-V: Ecosystem Readiness” conference as part of the Microelectronics 2023 forum. The alliance expects that by 2025, Russian developers (who exactly are not said) will release prototypes of high-performance RISC-V processors for computing and telecommunications technology. Serial production may begin after 2026.

The head of the RISC-V Alliance, Anna Serebryanikova, refused to clarify which developers were being discussed. Kommersant’s interlocutor from among the alliance participants says that at least three Russian companies planned to produce such chips. For example, Yadro and Baikal Electronics spoke about this publicly. Market sources interviewed by Kommersant are not yet aware of Russian companies releasing prototypes of RISC-V chips. Yadro and Baikal Electronics did not respond to requests.

RISC-V is an open processor architecture, a project of the University of California, Berkeley. It can be used freely and free of charge, including for commercial sale. While RISC-V is currently being used for low-performance utility solutions, it is expected to compete with the popular x86 and ARM architectures. Companies developing RISC-V microelectronics are participating in alliances to synchronize developments. The largest of them is the Swiss RISC-V International.

But access to alliances may become more difficult: According to Reuters, several members of Congress are pressuring President Joe Biden’s administration to impose export controls on RISC-V technology. So far, we are talking primarily about Chinese companies, which, Reuters writes, can use a “culture of open cooperation” to develop their own semiconductor industry. After the release of the agency’s material, RISC-V International Director Calista Redmond emphasized in her blog: “The entire technology ecosystem benefits from open standards.”

Kommersant’s interlocutor in one of the design centers notes that the participation of Russian developers in international RISC-V alliances is necessary for participation in meetings of technical committees: “At them, the community approves common standards for the development of components on the RISC-V architecture.” This, he said, is required to ensure compatibility of components “at the level of basic software and data exchange protocols.”

Two Kommersant sources in the market claim that the risks of limiting the spread of architecture are now being studied not only by Chinese, but also by Russian design centers: “If the international RISC-V alliance in the future refuses to accept representatives of Russian companies as members of technical committees, this will complicate development of microelectronics. Design centers will be forced to comply with technical standards adopted without their participation.”

However, a number of market participants believe that Russian developers will quickly find a way to circumvent possible restrictions. If a representative of a Russian developer is no longer allowed to participate in technical committees, explains Beshtau CEO Oleg Osipov, “nothing will stop you from establishing a legal entity in Hong Kong that is not formally associated with it and delegating a representative of this company to international alliance committees.”

Nikita Korolev