Project description
Accelerating designs of the world’s first microprocessors dedicated to supercomputing
Semiconductor microchips are the pillars of a digital and increasingly connected economy. The demand for semiconductor microchips is expected to double by 2030 and the global shortage of chips highlights the need for European independence. The French SME SiPearl has developed the first high-performance, low-power microprocessor with impeccable security dedicated to supercomputing. It is destined to be at the heart of European supercomputers that are the enablers of rapid and complex big data processing for applications in climate science, energy, health and more. The EU-funded HELIOS project will develop its next-generation HELIOS platform architecture that will reduce the cost and time of new chip designs.
Objective
SiPearl was spun off from the European Processor Initiative (EPI) with €7.4m of initial funding to develop high-end microprocessors and protect European chip sovereignty. In the past 2 years, SiPearl has partnered and contracted with Arm and other top-tier IP providers, secured a €4.6M order book and identified a €1.1Bn sales pipeline in Europe alone. SiPearl is currently raising an €80M+ Series A. We are confident to close this round by year-end based on the achievements of the past 3 months: lead term sheet from a lead corporate investor of our industry, 25M€ venture loan from the EIB, €15M follow-on grant from EPI and additional LOIs from several corporate and public investors. We are currently hiring 7-10 employees per month in Europe. This funding application relates to an additional €2.5M EIC grant + €15M EIC equity which is meant to support the development of our next generation HELIOS platform architecture that supports the new European Chips Act by reducing the cost and time of new chip designs.”
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
78600 Maisons Laffitte
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.