Industry News | 6/13/2025
MIPS and Cyient Join Forces to Develop Custom RISC-V Chips for AI
MIPS and Cyient Semiconductor have formed a strategic partnership to create custom RISC-V chips tailored for the automotive, industrial, and data center sectors. This collaboration leverages MIPS's expertise in RISC-V architecture and Cyient's capabilities in analog mixed-signal design to address the growing demand for specialized, high-performance semiconductors.
MIPS and Cyient Collaborate on Custom RISC-V Chips
In a strategic move to meet the rising demand for specialized semiconductors, MIPS, a leader in processor IP, has partnered with Cyient Semiconductor, based in Hyderabad. This collaboration aims to develop custom silicon solutions, including application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs), targeting the automotive, industrial, and data center markets.
Leveraging Complementary Strengths
The partnership combines MIPS's extensive experience in RISC-V processor architecture with Cyient's capabilities in analog mixed-signal design and power management. MIPS brings its Atlas portfolio, including the M8500 microcontroller, optimized for real-time compute workloads. Built on the open RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA), MIPS's technology allows for greater flexibility and innovation, moving away from proprietary systems.
Cyient, with over 25 years in the field, contributes its expertise in creating silicon solutions across analog, mixed-signal, RF, and digital domains. The company offers comprehensive chip development services, from architecture design to production, focusing on intelligent power delivery and analog mixed-signal capabilities.
Targeting High-Growth Sectors
The alliance focuses on high-growth sectors like automotive, industrial automation, and data centers. The automotive industry is shifting towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs), requiring chips capable of handling real-time, safety-critical functions. In industrial automation, the rise of robotics and AI-powered systems demands specialized processors for tasks like motor control and intelligent power management. The data center market also requires efficient power delivery solutions to support the growth of cloud computing and AI workloads.
Implications for the Semiconductor Industry
This partnership highlights the potential of the RISC-V architecture as an open-source alternative to proprietary ISAs like ARM and x86. The open nature of RISC-V enables greater customization and innovation, allowing developers to tailor instructions for specific workloads, such as AI and machine learning. By creating custom silicon platforms on this open foundation, MIPS and Cyient aim to accelerate the adoption of RISC-V in high-performance computing, particularly for edge AI and real-time applications.
Conclusion
The collaboration between MIPS and Cyient Semiconductor represents a proactive response to the evolving technology landscape. By combining their strengths, the partnership is set to deliver powerful, purpose-built chips for key sectors, promoting a more open and customizable future for semiconductor design. As AI becomes more integrated into various industries, the solutions developed through this partnership are expected to play a crucial role in advancing technological innovation.