GlobalFoundries (GF) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MIPS, a prominent provider of processor IP based on the open RISC-V instruction set. The deal, expected to close in the second half of 2025 pending regulatory approvals, aims to strengthen GF’s position in real-time computing for AI-driven markets such as autonomous mobility, industrial automation, datacenters, and the intelligent edge.
MIPS recently introduced the Atlas portfolio of RISC-V cores for application and AI edge processing, along with Atlas Explorer, a virtual design platform for optimizing power, performance, and area early in the chip design cycle. GF plans to integrate MIPS’ IP offerings with its own differentiated process technologies, enabling customers to build tailored compute solutions backed by GF’s global, secure manufacturing footprint.
Post-acquisition, MIPS will operate as a standalone business within GF. The move marks GF’s deeper push into the AI hardware domain, offering silicon and IP co-optimization for customers demanding flexibility and efficiency in next-generation designs.
- MIPS brings 40 years of RISC-based IP innovation and multi-threaded processing expertise
- Atlas core lineup targets real-time, safety-critical, and AI edge workloads
- Acquisition bolsters GF’s compute portfolio with customizable RISC-V processor IP
- MIPS to retain operational autonomy under GF post-acquisition
- Deal expected to close H2 2025, subject to regulatory approval
“Through this acquisition, we will expand our capabilities to offer customers more flexible solutions, paired with our differentiated process technologies and world-class manufacturing to help them build best-in-class products,” said Niels Anderskouv, president and COO at GlobalFoundries.
MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) is a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architecture developed in the 1980s at Stanford University under John Hennessy. Commercialized by MIPS Technologies, it became a cornerstone of high-performance computing, known for its simplicity, efficiency, and scalability.
- RISC Design: MIPS uses a streamlined instruction set, enabling faster execution with fewer clock cycles compared to CISC architectures like x86.
- Pipelining: Its non-interlocked pipeline optimizes instruction throughput, critical for performance in early workstations.
- Scalability: MIPS supports 32-bit and 64-bit processing, evolving from MIPS I to MIPS64 for diverse applications.
- Open Architecture: Later iterations offered customizable cores, appealing to embedded systems developers.
Computing Legacy
MIPS powered iconic systems in the 1980s and 1990s, including Silicon Graphics workstations used for 3D graphics in films like Jurassic Park. It drove early gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation, leveraging its balance of power and cost-efficiency. MIPS also dominated embedded systems, appearing in routers, printers, and automotive electronics due to its low power consumption and flexibility.
Evolution and Impact
MIPS architectures evolved through five major revisions (MIPS I–V), introducing features like superscalar execution and floating-point units. The 64-bit MIPS64, released in 1991, was among the first to support large memory addressing, influencing modern computing. Acquired by Imagination Technologies in 2013 and later by Wave Computing, MIPS transitioned to open-source in 2019, aligning with RISC-V’s rise.
