MIPS Collaborated With Chinese Firms on RISC-V Chips
The U.S. chip IP provider partnered with local companies to advance standardized RISC-V technology architecture.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Semiconductors
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In September 2026, U.S.-based chip intellectual property provider MIPS deepened its collaboration with Chinese firms to standardize RISC-V chip development. The initiative aims to leverage the open-standard architecture to support regional technological goals.
Why it matters
By adopting RISC-V technology, firms reduce dependency on proprietary foreign architectures like Arm and Intel's x86. This shift offers manufacturers enhanced energy efficiency, greater cost-effectiveness, and increased customizability for complex computing tasks.
MIPS employs 700 engineers to support its RISC-V platforms, which are currently utilized by 13 of the 15 largest global AI and data center infrastructure chip suppliers.
The players
MIPS
This U.S. chip intellectual property provider is owned by the chipmaker GlobalFoundries.
RISC-V International
This governing body manages the open-standard instruction set architecture used in modern chip design.
Eswin Computing Technology
This technology firm is preparing for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
The details
The collaboration focuses on the RISC-V instruction set, which developers use to design central processing units. Chinese firms have notably repurposed these designs, originally intended for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, to power new humanoid robotics platforms.
Timeline
July 2026: Qi Xiaoning spoke at the SCMP China Conference.
September 2026: Yankin Tanurhan held a media briefing in Shanghai.
September 2026: Liu Shuai spoke at an industry event.
September 2026: China released its 15th five-year plan policy document.
October 9, 2026: Eswin Computing Technology IPO scheduled.
The Tech Race
This collaboration aligns with China's 15th five-year plan, which identifies RISC-V chip development as a foundational pillar for the nation's electronics industry. It marks a significant transition from proprietary reliance toward open-standard architectures to bypass international supply chain constraints.
The standardization of RISC-V impacts users by potentially lowering the costs of future consumer electronics and robotics that rely on these chips. Developers may also see increased compatibility and easier integration of hardware components into complex systems.
The takeaway
The move toward open-standard architectures signifies a major shift in how the semiconductor industry balances national technological autonomy with global collaboration. Future market participants should watch how standardization efforts in RISC-V influence both pricing and innovation cycles for consumer hardware.
What happens next
Eswin Computing Technology is scheduled to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange on October 9, 2026.
Further reading
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