Shanghai Starfive Technology, a chip design startup co-founded by Peter Lee Ka Kit, is planning to establish a research and development center in Hong Kong to boost the semiconductor industry in the region. The company, headquartered in Shanghai, focuses on developing semiconductors based on RISC-V, an open-source architecture used for chip design in various applications. This move is aimed at diversifying the options beyond the dominant architectures of x86 and Arm.
Led by CEO Thomas Xu, Starfive has partnered with Xfusion Digital Technologies to set up the R&D facility in Hong Kong. Xfusion, previously a data server business under Huawei Technologies but later sold to a consortium, will collaborate with Starfive on developing a new data center chip to be used in Xfusion’s servers. The partnership is expected to drive innovation in the RISC-V ecosystem and contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s semiconductor industry and digital infrastructure.
The establishment of the innovation center in Hong Kong is seen as a strategic move to leverage the city’s advantages in science research policies, talent, and internationalization. Starfive aims to accelerate technological innovation, commercial applications, and contribute to the growth of the semiconductor industry in Hong Kong. The partnership signing ceremony in Hong Kong was attended by Peter Lee, who highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing RISC-V in the data center space.
Starfive, founded in 2018, is part of the Chinese companies investing in RISC-V as a way to achieve greater self-sufficiency in the semiconductor industry, particularly in the face of trade restrictions on advanced chip technology imposed by the U.S. China’s efforts to enhance its chip development capabilities align with the global trend towards technological autonomy. By focusing on RISC-V, Starfive aims to overcome challenges related to access to dominant architectures like x86 and Arm.
The collaboration between Starfive and Xfusion comes at a time when Hong Kong is seeking to catch up with the semiconductor industry’s growth driven by artificial intelligence. The establishment of an institute for semiconductor technology research and development in Hong Kong reflects efforts to align with Beijing’s strategies to strengthen chip development capabilities. Atom Semiconductor Technologies, another semiconductor startup based in Hong Kong, has also been gaining recognition for its efforts in the field.
Overall, Starfive’s expansion to Hong Kong and its collaboration with Xfusion signal a significant step towards furthering semiconductor innovation in the region. By focusing on RISC-V technology and partnering with established players in the industry, the company aims to contribute to the development of a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Hong Kong and beyond. With support from investors and strategic partnerships, Starfive is well-positioned to drive advancements in chip design and promote technological self-sufficiency in the semiconductor industry.
