The RISC-V architecture is establishing itself as one of the leading technological alternatives for the design of next-generation processors and embedded systems. Compared to proprietary architectures, RISC-V offers an open, modular and highly customisable model, allowing the processor design to be tailored to the specific needs of each application.
This flexibility is particularly important in a context characterised by the growth of the Internet of Things, industrial automation, connected vehicles and distributed intelligent systems. In all these areas, devices must process information ever closer to the point where the data is generated, subject to very stringent constraints in terms of energy consumption, cost, security, size and integration.
Furthermore, the rise of edge computing is reinforcing this trend. Sensors, IoT nodes, control systems and embedded devices can no longer rely solely on general-purpose architectures. They require specific solutions capable of providing local processing, secure communications and extremely efficient power management. In this context, RISC-V-based System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions represent a strategic approach to developing chips that are better suited, more scalable and more sustainable.
One of the main advantages of RISC-V is that it allows for the incorporation of custom instruction extensions, the optimisation of specific functional blocks, and the integration of specific capabilities depending on the use case. This paves the way for processors designed for low-power applications, edge computing, secure communications, autonomous sensors or mission-critical systems where energy efficiency and reliability are paramount.
In this context, Innova IRV Microelectronics S.L.U. (IRVI), the microelectronics subsidiary of the Ricardo Valle Institute for Innovation Foundation (Innova IRV), is driving the development of a new generation of RISC-V-based solutions designed for secure, ultra-low-power embedded applications.
RISC-V as the basis for more open, secure and efficient chips
IRVI’s technological core is based on the RISC-V architecture as a platform for designing embedded processors tailored to specific needs. Its open nature facilitates the development of solutions without relying on proprietary licences and enables progress towards more flexible, reusable and application-oriented design models.
IRVI’s areas of research focus on several key fields: secure embedded processing, energy consumption optimisation, the integration of communications and radio frequency into heterogeneous systems, and the development of scalable SoCs for industrial IoT, the automotive sector and smart systems.
This approach responds to a growing market demand: specialised chips capable of operating in distributed environments, with extended battery life and security mechanisms built in from the design stage.
The combination of RISC-V with advanced low-power techniques paves the way for more efficient and resilient connected devices that are ready for large-scale deployment.
RISCcom: low-power RISC-V microelectronics for the IoT and the automotive sector
One of the most significant projects in this field is RISCcom, a technological research initiative focused on the development of low-power microelectronics for sectors such as the automotive industry and the Internet of Things.
The project, co-funded by the CDTI through the PERTE Chip programme and supported by NextGenerationEU funds, has investigated new RISC-V-based architectures combined with customised instruction extensions, on-chip radio frequency integration and cybersecurity assessment in embedded systems.
RISCcom’s objective has been twofold. On the one hand, to develop more energy-efficient processors for connected devices. On the other, to enhance the security of communications in environments where millions of devices can operate simultaneously and in a distributed manner.
Among the results associated with the RISCcom ecosystem, particular mention should be made of core designs optimised for the IoT, aimed at significantly reducing energy consumption compared with comparable architectures, whilst maintaining competitive levels of computational performance.
ULPERT: towards extreme ultra-low power
IRVI’s strategy is bolstered by ULPERT (Ultra Low Power RISC-V Technology), a project focused on assessing the feasibility of RISC-V SoCs for ultra-low-power IoT applications.
This programme, which is currently underway, focuses on the design of ultra-low-power RISC-V microcontrollers, the optimisation of sleep modes and power retention, the evaluation of architectures for autonomous sensors, and the reduction of power consumption in continuous operation scenarios.
ULPERT tackles one of the major challenges of the IoT: enabling battery-powered devices to operate for long periods without maintenance. In distributed sensors, industrial applications, monitoring systems or connected devices in remote locations, every microwatt counts.
Research into ultra-low-power technology not only extends the lifespan of devices, but also enables more sustainable deployments, reduces operating costs and improves the viability of large-scale IoT solutions.
A new generation of semiconductors for edge computing
The combination of RISC-V architectures, low-power design, communications integration and embedded security places IRVI at the forefront of the future of European microelectronics.
Their developments are geared towards a new generation of chips capable of processing information at the network edge, operating for years on limited power, and integrating hardware-based security from the earliest stages of design. This approach is key for applications in industrial IoT, the automotive sector, smart systems, autonomous sensors and critical communications.
Furthermore, the use of modular and reusable IP can help to reduce development times and speed up the time-to-market for new solutions based on advanced semiconductors.
At a time when Europe is seeking to strengthen its technological autonomy, projects of this kind take on strategic importance.