Recently, Sai Fang Technology launched the world’s first data center management chip based on the RISC-V architecture, named “Lion Rock Chip,” in Hong Kong. This chip marks the first large-scale commercial deployment of RISC-V in the data center sector.
Xu Tao, Chairman and CEO of Sai Fang Technology, explained the positioning of the “Lion Rock Chip” with a metaphor: “If we compare a data center to an intelligent building, where the GPU and CPU are functional units, then the ‘Lion Rock Chip’ serves as the ‘property management hub’ of the entire building—responsible for system security, energy consumption scheduling, and operational management, ensuring the efficient and stable operation of the entire structure.”
Chen Jiaqi, CEO of Hong Kong Investment Management Company, stated at the event: “In March of this year, the Hong Kong Investment Company announced its investment in Sai Fang Technology. Now, this investment has yielded concrete results. The ‘Lion Rock Chip’ not only represents a breakthrough in key technology but has also gained market recognition and customer support, poised for large-scale production. As the world’s first data center management chip developed based on the RISC-V architecture, the ‘Lion Rock Chip’ embodies the investment direction of the Hong Kong Investment Company, which is ‘rooted in Hong Kong, based on the nation, and mindful of the world,’ and demonstrates a firm commitment to supporting national technological self-reliance and strength.”
During the launch event, Sai Fang Technology also held a delivery ceremony for the “Lion Rock Chip” in collaboration with Super Fusion, marking a new starting point for both parties to continue promoting the commercialization of the “Lion Rock Chip” and deepen multidimensional cooperation in the data center field.
Liu Hongyun, Chairman and CEO of Super Fusion, stated: “Computing power is the foundation of Super Fusion’s global operations, and creating a stable data center management chip is crucial. Choosing the ‘Lion Rock Chip’ is based on the open nature of the RISC-V architecture, the chip’s stringent performance standards, and the support from the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Investment Company. This chip will be widely used in various scenarios such as AI servers, edge computing, and smart energy, helping to build a more intelligent, green, and secure computing infrastructure. In the future, Super Fusion will continue to work with partners to promote the development of the RISC-V ecosystem.”
It is reported that Super Fusion and Sai Fang Technology reached a strategic cooperation agreement as early as March 2024 to jointly promote the research and development and deployment of the “Lion Rock Chip.” During the cooperation process, it took only 16 months from signing the agreement to successfully lighting up the first chip.
In terms of technical integration and ecosystem co-construction, the “Lion Rock Chip” has completed platform management function verification in Intel’s customer reference system, providing key assurance for subsequent large-scale deployment.
Regarding core technology, the “Lion Rock Chip” is equipped with Sai Fang Technology’s self-developed high-performance RISC-V core and a coherent on-chip network (NoC). Xu Tao pointed out that this RISC-V core adheres to the open concept, allowing customers to expand functions and customize development based on actual application scenarios.
He stated that the “Lion Rock Chip” has reached international mainstream levels in key indicators such as specifications, functions, performance, and power consumption. With localized hardware and software support provided by Sai Fang Technology, customers can quickly optimize products and achieve large-scale commercial deployment.
From an industry perspective, in the face of surging demand for computing power, there is an urgent need for greener, more economical, and safer data center solutions. As the foundational cornerstone supporting the stable operation of large-scale computing clusters, data center management chips are experiencing unprecedented development opportunities. Data shows that the annual shipment of global data center management chips is approximately 16 million units, which is expected to grow to 30 to 40 million units by 2030.
Sai Fang Technology was established in 2018, providing a series of products and solutions based on the RISC-V instruction set, including CPU IP, NoC IP, SoC, and development boards. Previously, the company has achieved a series of results in Hong Kong: in application deployment, collaborating with China Mobile Hong Kong and Hong Kong and China Gas to promote the application of “Honghua Chip” in Hong Kong; in ecosystem building, hosting the first “Hong Kong RISC-V Development Forum” and co-establishing the “Smart Future Joint Innovation Center” with Super Fusion; and in talent cultivation, launching the “Hong Kong RISC-V Talent Cultivation Program” and collaborating with the Department of Electrical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong to establish the “RISC-V Ecosystem Joint Laboratory.”
Source:China Securities Journal
