European AI pioneer SiPearl secures 130 million euros in funding for sovereign AI advancements
In a significant step forward for European semiconductor technology, SiPearl, a French startup specialising in high-performance, energy-efficient processors for AI and supercomputing, has secured €130 million in a Series A funding round. This investment will accelerate the industrial production of SiPearl's flagship chip, the Rhea1, with manufacturing to be carried out by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC).
The Rhea1 chip, designed by Arm Holdings PLC, boasts 80 cores and more than 61 billion transistors. It is specifically tailored for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI inference applications, which involve processing live data through pre-trained AI models for prediction and task-solving. This strategic chip will play a crucial role in Europe's pursuit of technological sovereignty, particularly in critical sectors like AI, security, and defence.
SiPearl's chief financial officer, Jean-Luc Gilbert, announced that the funds raised will be primarily used for research and development and the industrialization of the Rhea1 chip. The company aims to use these resources to not only expedite the production of the Rhea1 but also to pave the way for the development of future CPU generations. These future products will target expanding markets such as data centres and AI for enterprises.
Looking ahead, SiPearl plans to raise an additional €200 million through a Series B fundraising round between 2026 and 2028. This funding will support the company's ambitions to establish itself as a major player in the global semiconductor market.
With about 200 employees across France, Spain, and Italy, SiPearl is expanding its footprint in Europe. The company's progress underscores Europe's drive towards independence in semiconductor technology and high-performance AI computing infrastructure.
The investment in SiPearl is part of a broader European effort to pursue industrial sovereignty in the field of AI. The European Innovation Council Fund, Arm, French IT firm Atos SE, and Taiwan's Cathay Venture Inc, a subsidiary of Cathay Financial Holding Co, also participated in SiPearl's recent funding round.
As the first investment by Taiwanese private equity firm Cathay Venture, this funding round signifies a strengthening of ties between Europe and Asia in the competitive semiconductor market. The first Rhea1 devices are expected to be available by early 2026.
In summary, SiPearl's Rhea1 chip is a significant step towards Europe's goal of technological independence in the semiconductor industry. With the support of leading investors, SiPearl is poised to make a major impact in the global market, particularly in the areas of HPC and AI.
Sources: [1] https://www.reuters.com/business/technology/european-ai-chipmaker-sipearl-raises-130-million-series-a-funding-2023-03-21/ [2] https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/sipearl-raises-130-million-euros-to-make-chips-for-eus-supercomputer [3] https://www.arm.com/company/press-release/2023-03/arm-announces-partnership-with-sipearl-to-develop-high-performance-ai-chip [4] https://www.computerworlduk.com/ai/european-ai-chipmaker-sipearl-raises-130-million-series-a-funding-2023-03-21/ [5] https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/europe-needs-to-catch-up-in-the-race-for-ai-chips/
The Rhea1 chip, designed by Arm Holdings PLC, is specifically tailored for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI inference applications, leveraging artificial intelligence to process live data. SiPearl, the French startup behind this chip, aims to use the funds raised to invest in research and development and industrialize the Rhea1, with a focus on expanding markets such as data centers and AI for enterprises, emphasizing the role of technology and artificial intelligence in future CPU generations.
