Niklas Källman, Product Manager for RISC-V Solutions, shares his insights after a few intense days in Hangzhou in China.
My recent trip to the RISC-V Summit in China was an eye-opening experience in more ways than one. As someone who last visited China 15 years ago, I find the transformation in this beautiful city to be nothing short of astounding. The streets, once filled with the familiar hum of gasoline engines, are now dominated by electric vehicles from various brands, some of which are rarely seen in Europe. Names like Voyah and Chery may be unfamiliar, but they are making significant strides in the electric vehicle (EV) market. More recognizable brands such as BYD, Geely, and Zeekr also contribute to the electric revolution, with even buses and mopeds running on electricity. The result? A city free from smog, where the sky is visible even in the daytime, and the streets are uncanny silent without the noise of traditional engines.
Another striking change was the shift to a cashless society. Alipay and WeChat Pay have become the norm, rendering the cash I brought from Sweden unnecessary. These changes are a testament to the rapid pace of technological advancement in China, equally reflected in the microcontroller industry.
The rise of RISC-V in China
Just as the automotive landscape has transformed, so has the field of microcontrollers in China. The RISC-V Summit showcased a plethora of RISC-V cores and devices from brands that are virtually unknown outside of China. Companies like Haawking and Spacemit are leading the change, alongside industry giants like XuanTie, Alibaba's semiconductor arm. RISC-V International, as presented by Calista Redmond at the Summit, projects that by 2030, China's RISC-V SoC revenue will reach $25 billion, with the architecture capturing 25% of the market in areas such as wearables, consumer AI acceleration, and more.
The Summit featured impressive demonstrations of RISC-V processors powering everything from Ubuntu and Android laptops to consumer electronics, gas meters, toys, and graphical accelerators. This wide array of applications underscores RISC-V's versatility and growing importance in the global tech ecosystem.
Strengthening partnerships in the embedded space
In the embedded space, I had the privilege of meeting with several valued partners, including Andes, ESWIN, HPMicro, Nuclei, SiFive, WCH, and XuanTie. Our discussions centered around IAR’s capabilities in helping developers build and debug their embedded RISC-V applications, particularly in adhering to the RISC-V debug specification. We also explored the potential of RISC-V's trace functionality, such as the RISC-V E-Trace and N-Trace specifications and discussed broader possibilities for RISC-V ISA and ISA extension support.
One clear trend evident from our discussions is the growing demand for functional safety certification for RISC-V cores and their supporting toolchains, particularly in the automotive sector. This is no surprise, given the never-ending stream of electric vehicles on the streets outside the Summit. There is immense potential for developing functionally safe products with IAR’s certified tools, which are increasingly essential in this rapidly evolving landscape.
RISC-V: A lasting architecture
The RISC-V architecture is here to stay, and China is undoubtedly at the forefront of its adoption in devices and products. The Summit reinforced my belief that IAR’s strong reputation and recognized brand position us well to support this burgeoning market. As the world continues to embrace RISC-V, IAR will remain a trusted partner, providing RISC-V development solutions such as new compiler- and instruction set extensions, along with improved build automation capabilities to equip you with the certified tools and expertise needed to navigate the future.
In conclusion, my visit to the RISC-V Summit in Hangzhou was a powerful reminder of how far technology has come in just a few years—and a glimpse into the bright future ahead. Whether it's the silent streets of Hangzhou or the bustling innovation in RISC-V development, it's clear that we are on the cusp of a new era, and IAR is ready to help lead the way.
If you want to learn more about our solutions for RISC-V, check out https://info.iar.com/risc-v .