GlobalFoundries Acquires MIPS: Bolstering RISC-V & AI Chip Capabilities

GlobalFoundries (GF), a leading semiconductor foundry, announced on July 8 its acquisition of processor technology firm MIPS, marking a strategic move to bolster its capabilities in RISC-V processor cores, software tools, and related technologies. This acquisition aims to strengthen GF’s competitive edge in key markets such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, industrial automation, data centers, and edge intelligence.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Following the acquisition, MIPS will operate as an independent division under the GlobalFoundries umbrella.

GF stated that the merger will enable the integration of its advanced manufacturing capabilities with MIPS’ scalable processor IP to deliver more flexible, custom-tailored solutions, empowering clients to develop high-performance, energy-efficient chips aligned with future demands. Niels Anderskouv, GF’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized, “MIPS brings a strong heritage of delivering efficient, scalable compute IP tailored for performance-critical applications, which strategically aligns with the evolving demands of AI platforms across diverse markets. Through this acquisition, we will expand our capabilities to offer customers more flexible, RISC-V-based open platform solutions, paired with our differentiated process technologies and world-class manufacturing to help them build world-class products.”

In recent years, MIPS has focused on developing RISC-V-based processor technology and launched the Atlas product family, which includes real-time processors, application processors, and AI edge computing cores. Its Atlas Explorer virtual platform enables chip design teams to optimize performance, power consumption, and silicon area in the early design phase, thereby enhancing development efficiency.

MIPS CEO Sameer Wasson noted that joining GlobalFoundries would allow the company to leverage GF’s global manufacturing scale, cybersecurity expertise, and long-term supply capabilities to accelerate innovation in “Physical AI” applications, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial robotics. MIPS will continue operating independently, serving clients in the automotive, industrial control, and embedded systems markets.

GlobalFoundries has been actively expanding its footprint in the AI chip foundry space, enhancing FinFET and FD-SOI process technologies while investing in open architecture platforms, physical IP, and chip-level security. The acquisition of MIPS not only broadens GF’s processor IP portfolio but also strengthens its ability to deliver end-to-end “design-to-manufacturing” solutions to customers.

MIPS has experienced a series of ownership changes over the years, transitioning from an ARM-based architecture to the RISC-V model. Founded in 1981 by Stanford University President and current Alphabet Chairman John Hennessy, MIPS initially pioneered Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC), emerging as a formidable competitor to ARM. However, its relatively closed licensing model limited broader adoption, gradually eroding its market position. In November 2012, MIPS was acquired by Imagination Technologies.

After Imagination Technologies also struggled in the market, MIPS was sold to Wave Computing, which attempted to revitalize the brand by open-sourcing its architecture. Nonetheless, with the market already shifting decisively toward ARM-based development, MIPS failed to regain traction and ultimately pivoted entirely to the open-source RISC-V architecture. Its subsequent processor designs focused on security and high performance, targeting autonomous driving, industrial control, and edge AI scenarios.

As AI technology increasingly extends toward edge and physical devices, the open and modular nature of RISC-V has propelled its rapid ascent. GF’s acquisition of MIPS is expected to further advance the real-world adoption of RISC-V in high-performance, low-power computing domains, catalyzing the evolution of the global AI ecosystem. By merging their strengths in manufacturing, design, and ecosystem integration, the two companies aim to deliver agile, secure, and efficient AI solutions tailored for automotive, industrial, data center, and edge computing markets—fortifying their position in the next wave of intelligent computing innovation.

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