EuroHPC Supports DARE Project for Sovereign HPC and AI Development
March 6, 2025 -- Supported by EuroHPC JU funding, the DARE (Digital Autonomy with RISC-V in Europe) project has launched to develop cutting-edge HPC hardware and software based on RISC-V, an open instruction set architecture poised to power exascale and post-exascale supercomputers.
The DARE project will start by designing and developing one processor and two accelerators based on the RISC-V architecture. It will include:
- A vector accelerator (VEC) for high-precision HPC and emerging applications in the HPC-AI convergence domain.
- An AI Processing Unit (AIPU) designed for AI inference acceleration in HPC applications.
- A general-purpose processor (GPP) optimised for HPC workloads in European supercomputers.
Credit: EuroHPC JU
RISC-V is an open architecture built on global standards and open-source principles. This openness will enable Europe to develop sovereign HPC technologies, fostering an autonomous and leading European HPC ecosystem. RISC-V also offers an energy-efficient alternative to other microprocessor architectures.
Building on research from EuroHPC JU-funded projects such as the European Processor Initiative (EPI), MEEP, eProcessor, EUPILOT ,and EUPEX, DARE is part of the broad European Union's strategy to reach European autonomy in strategic hardware technologies by investing and building a diverse technology portfolio including processors, (AI) accelerators, quantum chips and other state of the art hardware components. DARE aims to build prototype HPC and AI systems based on EU-designed and developed, industry-standard chiplets using competitive silicon technology nodes. Moreover, DARE will develop a full RISC-V HPC and AI software stack.
DARE represents a true European collaborative effort. With 38 partners from 13 countries—including many SMEs—this diverse consortium will strengthen the European HPC industry and drive innovation across the continent. The DARE consortium is coordinated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).
"I am proud to announce the launch of the DARE project which marks a significant milestone for European digital sovereignty," said Anders Jensen, EuroHPC JU Executive Director. "This ambitious initiative will drive innovation in both hardware and software technologies and leverage the full power of HPC and AI to develop secure, efficient and European-led solutions for the future."
The DARE consortium has been selected following the call HORIZON-EUROHPC-JU-2022-TECH-03 to establish a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) for developing a large-scale European initiative for a HPC ecosystem based on RISC-V. The FPA will run for six years, until 2030.
As part of this FPA, the DARE consortium will oversee the first Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) for the development of European microprocessors based on RISC-V. The DARE consortium will receive European Union funding from the EuroHPC JU with a total budget of up to € 120 million (Horizon Europe funding program). This will be matched by additional co-funding from the participating states.
Source: EuroHPC JU
