SiFive in Washington: Japan partnership and a stronger semiconductor ecosystem

SiFive was busy in Washington, D.C. this week, participating in a number of exciting meetings surrounding the historic visit of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida to the United States. The visit highlights the strength of cooperation between the two countries and the importance that the semiconductor industry holds in this alliance. SiFive was honored to occupy a seat at the table alongside industry powerhouses and key government officials from both nations.

Jonathan Gentin of SiFive joined a U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Suppliers roundtable and explained to participants how RISC-V and SiFive’s collaborative ecosystem is well poised to enhance innovation and cooperation between the U.S. and Japan. RISC-V, of course, is an open standard that allows for collaboration in all emerging areas of compute ranging from AI to automotive to datacenter and to consumer devices. As the leader in RISC-V, SiFive is working with lead partners to continue to grow RISC-V in Japan.

SiFive was honored to join the roundtable (photo above) which included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo; Tarun Chhabra, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and National Security; Hosaka Shin, Vice Minister for International Affairs, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); Nohara Satoshi, Director-General, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, METI; and representatives from a select group of U.S. and Japanese semiconductor companies.

After the roundtable a smaller group (including SiFive) met with United States Senator and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Capitol Hill. Senator Schumer, who was instrumental in spearheading the CHIPS Act and like Secretary Raimondo has long championed the semiconductor industry as vital to U.S. interests, highlighted the critical role semiconductors have played in cultivating the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance, opportunities for broad cooperation between the United States and Japan in research and development, and the domestic success of the CHIPS Act (including in New York).

Japan and the United States have a long history of cooperation in semiconductor equipment, software and hardware. SiFive is involved with METI and working with others to help spur new innovation in Japan based around RISC-V. Japan has a wealth of highly talented engineers, a sophisticated legal system that protects intellectual property rights, and a favorable business environment that encourages companies like SiFive to partner with the leading companies and innovators in Japan.

“SiFive has strong business momentum in Japan and we work closely with many of its technology leaders in AI, automotive and consumer electronics. We were honored to join the U.S.-Japan roundtable in Washington, D.C. and showcase our cooperation and innovation,” said Sam Rogan, President and GM, SiFive Japan.

Innovation leadership and job creation in the United States

Tom Leahy SiFive head of Aerospace and Business Development was also in the Capitol with members of an SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association) delegation who visited with several members of Congress and staffers to discuss a variety of issues including the importance of RISC-V to the future of the semiconductor industry, the broader importance of the CHIPS Act, and the investment required to ensure that innovation leadership continues in areas such as AI and Compute.

“RISC-V was invented in the United States and SiFive was founded here in Silicon Valley by the RISC-V inventors,” said Leahy. “We appreciated the chance to sit down with leaders and policy makers in Washington to explain the strategic value of semiconductors in terms of spurring innovation, job creation and domestic chip capabilities. I was pleased to also explain why our technology is being used by Government agencies like NASA to provide future critical computing needs.”

RISC-V has clear benefits for Aerospace and Defense applications and SiFive is working with a number of companies and government agencies to bring its proven flexible, energy efficient powerful compute to a wide variety of applications.