Rapidus to Promote Development and Manufacturing of Edge-AI Accelerator with TenstorrentA collaboration in a project by LSTC, adopted by NEDO

Feb. 27, 2024 – Rapidus Corporation (Head Office: 4-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuyoshi Koike), a company involved in the research, development, design, manufacture, and sales of advanced logic semiconductors, today announced that it will be working with Tenstorrent Holdings Inc. (CEO: Jim Keller), a next-generation computing company building computers for AI, on the development and manufacturing of an edge-AI accelerator.

This collaboration was announced on February 9, by the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC, Head Office: 3-3-8 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Tetsuro Higashi) as one of the two projects by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to commission post-5G information and communication systems infrastructure enhancement R&D and development of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology.

The project is called “Development of edge-AI accelerator implemented in 2-nm logic technology,” led by LSTC, and is an edge-AI accelerator dedicated to edge inference processing applications, including generative AI, which will be developed through international collaboration to construct the circuit design technique in the corresponding technology generation. Tenstorrent will develop the CPU chip, while the AI Chip Design Center (AIDC, a collaborative research venture between the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo) will develop the accelerator chip. Rapidus aims to maximize the effectiveness of 2nm logic state-of-art semiconductor manufacturing technology for manufacture.

On November 17, 2023, Tenstorrent and Rapidus announced a partnership agreement to accelerate development in the field of AI edge devices based on 2nm logic semiconductors. This project with LSTC, overseen by NEDO, is an example of this partnership in action.

Tenstorrent has the world-class RISC-V CPU design technology and chiplet IP required for 2nm-level AI edge device development. In turn, Rapidus aims to build a Rapid and Unified Manufacturing Service (RUMS) to enable semiconductor manufacturing with short turnaround times (TAT) by providing integrated design support, front-end process, and back-end process as a value proposition. Product design and manufacturing by RUMS will be effective in maximizing the design technology potential of Tenstorrent.

Through the execution of this project, Tenstorrent and Rapidus aim to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing for the new AI era.

About Tenstorrent Holdings Inc.

Tenstorrent is a next-generation computing company that builds computers for AI.  Headquartered in the U.S. with offices in Austin, Texas, and Silicon Valley, and global offices in Toronto, Belgrade, Seoul, Tokyo, and Bangalore, Tenstorrent brings together experts in the field of computer architecture, ASIC design, RISC-V technology, advanced systems, and neural network compilers. Tenstorrent is backed by Eclipse Ventures and Real Ventures, Archerman Capital, Samsung Catalyst Fund, and Hyundai Motor Group among others.

About Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC)

LSTC contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the Japanese semiconductor industry by promoting research and development into next-generation semiconductors in collaboration with domestic and overseas companies and research institutions. LSTC will formulate the circuit design, device, manufacturing, and equipment/materials technologies necessary to enable the manufacture of semiconductors at the 2nm node and beyond that surpass conventional performance at short TAT (turnaround time), conduct elemental technology research in collaboration with members and external organizations, and commercialize the research results.

About AI Chip Design Center (AIDC)

AIDC was established at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo to accelerate the development of innovative AI chips in Japan through collaboration between the Electronics and Manufacturing Area of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and the Fundamental Design Research Division of the Systems Design Lab, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.

About Rapidus Corporation

Rapidus Corporation aims to develop and manufacture the world’s most advanced logic semiconductors. We will create new industries together with our customers through the development and provision of services to shorten cycle times in design, wafer processes, 3D packaging, and more. We will continue to challenge ourselves in order to contribute to the fulfillment, prosperity, and happiness of people’s lives through the use of semiconductors.

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Takano Okumoto, Kreab
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Miki Yagi, Kreab
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