riscv.org, Oct. 09, 2025 –
In a historic breakthrough for the global tech industry, the eProcessor Project proudly announces the successful development and deployment of the Europe’s first out-of-order RISC-V processor silicon. This innovative processor, manufactured in a 22nm process, represents a leap forward in computational performance, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and speed in a range of industries, including automotive, AI, and high-performance computing.
Out-of-order execution allows the processor to optimize the use of system resources by executing instructions out of sequence. This greatly enhances the processor’s overall performance, offering substantial gains for applications that require high computational power. Moreover, the processor runs Linux, demonstrating its full functionality for real-world applications and confirming its capabilities in complex environments.
A Landmark Achievement for RISC-V and European Innovation
This pioneering development positions Europe as a leader in the global semiconductor and open source hardware movement. The eProcessor Project, which brings together a collaborative network of industry experts, innovators, and researchers including key partners like Chalmers University, Forth, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Christmann, Exapsys, Extoll, Sapienza, Thales, Universität Bielefeld, and Cortus, marks a significant milestone in the RISC-V ecosystem. As the main partner contributor on the RISC-V processor, Cortus played a critical role in the architecture, design, and development of the 4-way Out-of-Order (OoO) RISC-V processor, driving the project forward with its deep expertise in processor architecture. Cortus’ contributions were pivotal in realizing the ambitious goals of the project, ensuring that the processor met the highest standards of performance, scalability, and energy efficiency.
Cortus was also responsible for the silicon implementation and chip packaging.
This project is fully aligned with Cortus’ strategy and roadmap, reinforcing the company’s commitment to advancing RISC-V architecture and driving innovations in the semiconductor space, particularly in areas like high-performance computing, and automotive solutions.
Key Milestone: Europe’s First Out-of-Order RISC-V Processor Silicon Successfully Deployed
The successful deployment of the Europe’s first out-of-order RISC-V processor silicon marks a key milestone in the eProcessor Project. This achievement represents the culmination of years of collaboration and technological innovation, bringing Europe to the forefront of semiconductor advancements. This milestone opens the door for future generations of processors, driving progress in both high-performance computing (HPC) and automotive systems, and will enable the development of a full-stack RISC-V ecosystem.
In Line with the EU Strategy and the European Chips Act
This project is a key step forward in Europe’s broader technological goals and is fully in line with the European Union’s strategy for semiconductor innovation, especially in light of the EU Chips Act. The EU has committed to boosting its semiconductor capacity, and the eProcessor Project plays a critical role in advancing Europe’s position in the global chip market. By contributing to the development of open-source RISC-V processors, the project supports the EU’s vision for technological autonomy, innovation, and a more resilient semiconductor supply chain across Europe.
eProcessor Project Lead, Lluc Alvarez, from BSC, commented: “The successful development of the first out-of-order RISC-V processor is a true testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. By leveraging the strength of our talented project members, including Cortus as the primary contributor, we’ve made a quantum leap in RISC-V processing technology, setting the stage for a new generation of computing solutions. This project is a critical milestone in Cortus’ strategic roadmap and reinforces our position at the forefront of RISC-V development.”