RISC-V, Open Hardware and the Race for Semiconductor Independence
RISC-V semiconductor Europe initiatives describe a shift to an open instruction set and open-source chip design so engineers, startups and established companies can build flexible processors without depending on closed, proprietary ecosystems, while universities and researchers reuse common building blocks to speed learning and innovation across the wider technology stack. For many deep-tech leaders, this is no longer a theoretical debate but a strategic response to supply risk and licensing lock-in. Michael Chapman, President, CEO and Co-founder of Cortus, notes that decades of proprietary processor evolution left innovation “constrained by closed ecosystems.” RISC-V, by contrast, standardizes the ISA but frees companies to differentiate their implementations, especially for embedded systems, AI accelerators and industrial IoT. This logic now shapes a broader push for European semiconductor independence, where control of architecture, tools and talent matters as much as raw manufacturing capacity.
From Closed Instruments to Open Engineering Platforms
In test and measurement, Red Pitaya shows how open hardware can lower barriers that once kept advanced tools out of smaller labs and classrooms. Its STEMlab platforms combine signal acquisition, processing and control in a board that engineers can reprogram, extend and integrate with their own designs. This open instrumentation model supports deep-tech innovation strategy by letting developers prototype RF systems, photonics experiments or quantum control setups without buying proprietary instruments. It also feeds into European semiconductor independence by growing a base of engineers who are comfortable working with open-source chip design, firmware and FPGA flows from day one. Mateja Lampe Rupnik, CEO of Red Pitaya, frames the goal as democratizing access to deep tech so innovation is not limited to large corporates. That mindset aligns with RISC-V’s open ISA: both shift power toward those who create systems, not those who control closed platforms.
Cortus and RISC-V as a Strategic Alternative to ARM and x86
Cortus positions RISC-V as a practical answer to long-term dependence on ARM and x86 architectures. Chapman’s team spent years building their own 32-bit embedded processors, which now ship in more than 18 billion devices, with current production at around 1.2 billion units annually. That track record gives weight to their decision to back RISC-V early as one of 12 founding members of the RISC-V Foundation and the only non-American organization in that group. Cortus now develops RISC-V cores for demanding domains such as automotive, avionics, space and nuclear systems, where energy-efficient AI and safety are both critical. The open ISA lets them tailor implementations to each market without waiting for proprietary roadmap updates. For European semiconductor companies and startups that want to escape single-vendor dependence, this mix of standardization and design freedom is central to building an indigenous processor ecosystem.
Open Innovation, Talent Pipelines and Quantum-AI Convergence
Open engineering platforms like Red Pitaya also function as education engines. Because students can inspect designs, modify firmware and interface with open tools, they gain skills that transfer directly into semiconductor design, embedded systems and AI. Projects such as student-built radar systems show how low-cost access to serious instrumentation can accelerate learning that once required specialized labs. In parallel, Cortus and other processor IP vendors are aligning RISC-V with emerging workloads, especially AI inference at the edge and control electronics for quantum technologies. As quantum computers and advanced sensors move from labs to products, the need for customized control, timing and signal-processing silicon will grow. Open-source chip design flows and a common RISC-V base can shorten development cycles and spread know-how across universities, startups and established firms, building the talent pool required for long-term European semiconductor independence.
Lowering Market Barriers for Deep-Tech Startups
The perspectives from Red Pitaya and Cortus converge on one theme: open ecosystems cut entry costs for new semiconductor and deep-tech ventures. Instead of licensing expensive proprietary IP and tools from day one, startups can start with RISC-V cores, open-source chip design toolchains and open instrumentation platforms, then invest selectively where they add unique value. That model fits an environment where capital for hardware can be scarce and time-to-market is critical. By aligning on open standards, companies also tap into shared software stacks, community validation and collaborative research with universities. Quantum technologies and AI amplify these effects, because they demand experimentation across layers—from algorithms to analog front ends. An open stack speeds that work. If this momentum continues, the next generation of semiconductor companies may grow up assuming that architectural freedom, not lock-in, is the default.
