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Acquisition Globalfoundries Acquires MIPS: Is the RISC-V Ecosystem Fragile?

By Susanne Braun | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

MIPS Technologies, Inc.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Europe Ltd Zweigndl. Deutschland
FAULHABER Drive Systems
dataTec AG
Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

Globalfoundries wants to strengthen its own IP portfolio and plans to do so with MIPS. Additionally, the unrest at Codasip shows that the RISC-V ecosystem is at a turning point and requires more than just visionary ideas.

Globalfoundries wants to buy MIPS (symbol image).(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated)
Globalfoundries wants to buy MIPS (symbol image).
(Image: Dall-E / AI-generated)

The RISC-V ecosystem holds great potential—both technically and strategically. However, many projects are (still) not market-ready, financially unstable, or poorly coordinated. Recent developments show that what is needed now are not just pioneers but also sustainable structures, capital, and industrial support to bring RISC-V from its niche into the mainstream. Until then, the ecosystem remains vulnerable.

An example: The heavily funded provider Codasip is currently considering the sale of individual business units or even the entire company. The announced acquisition of MIPS by Globalfoundries also sends a clear message. The acquisition intent was made public on July 8, 2025. If approved by the relevant authorities, the transaction is expected to be completed later this year.

Strategic Acquisition

With the acquisition, Globalfoundries aims to strengthen its IP portfolio and expand its process technologies with software and architecture expertise. MIPS is to be continued as an independent company and will continue to deliver compute cores for autonomous mobility, industrial automation, data centers, and edge applications.

"With the acquisition by Globalfoundries, a new, bold chapter begins for MIPS," said Sameer Wasson, CEO of MIPS. "GF's proven track record of delivering differentiated technologies through a secure, global manufacturing base will enhance our innovative capabilities—and open up new opportunities in the field of Physical AI."

Niels Anderskouv, President and COO of Globalfoundries, also emphasizes: "With this acquisition, we are expanding our ability to offer customers flexible RISC-V-based solutions—complemented by our differentiated process technologies and our world-leading manufacturing."

Eventful Past

MIPS has a dynamic corporate history closely tied to the development of RISC processor architectures. Founded by John L. Hennessy and colleagues in 1984, the company had its first initial public offering (IPO) in 1989 and was acquired by Silicon Graphics in 1992. In 1998, it was spun off as MIPS Technologies and underwent a second IPO. In the following years, MIPS expanded its portfolio through several acquisitions and remained active in the embedded sector, including an Android port to its own architecture.

After several ownership changes, including Imagination Technologies and Wave Computing, MIPS entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2020. Since its restart in 2021, the company has focused on open architectures, particularly RISC-V. (sb)

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