China plans to push nationwide adoption of cost-effective RISC-V chips - Reuters

Investing.com-- China is preparing to release guidance aimed at promoting the adoption of open-source RISC-V chips across the country, marking a significant step in reducing reliance on Western semiconductor technology, Reuters reported on Tuesday citing sources familiar with the matter.

RISC-V chips are open-source computer processors that offer a flexible and cost-effective alternative to proprietary chips, allowing companies to design customized hardware for various applications, from smartphones to AI and supercomputers.

The guidance, expected as soon as this month, is being drafted by eight government bodies, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the report said. The timeline could still shift, the report added.

RISC-V provides an open-source alternative to proprietary architectures like x86, led by U.S. chip giants Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD), and Arm , developed by Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM).

These chips have gained traction among Chinese firms for their lower costs and geopolitical neutrality. State-backed research institutions have increasingly embraced the technology, though Beijing has yet to make it a policy priority, Reuters reported.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over semiconductors.

Some U.S. lawmakers have pushed for restrictions on American firms collaborating on RISC-V, citing concerns over China’s use of the technology, Reuters previously reported.

China’s largest commercial RISC-V providers include Alibaba’s (HK:9988) and startup Nuclei System Technology.