by ZHANG Xilong

Lion Rock, the landmark overlooking Kowloon, is taking on new meaning as shorthand for Hong Kong's push to build a homegrown tech base. That effort advanced with the launch of the "Lion Rock Chip," a RISC-V–based data-center management processor billed as the first of its kind to reach commercial scale.

The chip was developed by StarFive Technology with backing from tycoon Peter Lee Ka-kit's family office and the government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC). StarFive founder and CEO XU Tao said the product has secured initial orders, is now in pilot production and is expected to enter volume manufacturing in the first quarter of next year. Early uses include AI servers, edge-computing equipment and local data centers.

Data-center operators and telecom carriers are likely to drive demand, while edge-computing deployments — spread across multiple sites — also require centralized control, Xu said, adding that StarFive is exploring industrial-control applications as well.

RISC-V, created in 2010, is an open-source instruction-set architecture seen by many as a more accessible alternative to x86 and Arm. Xu said the architecture's openness and modest capital requirements make it a realistic entry point for Hong Kong, where the government is trying to broaden its technology base.

HKIC invested in StarFive in March to help build a local RISC-V ecosystem spanning design, software and applications. xFusion, which worked on the chip, has become its first customer, and the two companies have set up an innovation center to support adoption. StarFive aims to capture share in management-controller chips and expand into connectivity, storage and networking.

Demand for management controllers has increased as AI drives the build-out of large-scale compute clusters. Industry estimates put annual global shipments at around 16 million units, rising to as much as 40 million by 2030. At a RISC-V forum on Nov.24, speakers said the architecture's efficiency and flexibility make it well-suited to AI workloads.

StarFive is also developing a RISC-V baseboard management controller (BMC) called the JH-B100. The chip has completed compatibility tests with several server platforms and is nearing commercial rollout, targeting parity with mainstream global products on performance and security.

StarFive previously supplied chips used in Hong Kong's smart-meter infrastructure through partnerships with China Mobile Hong Kong and Towngas.

Hong Kong has limited history in semiconductors but is trying to strengthen its capabilities. Recent initiatives include the establishment of the Hong Kong Microelectronics R&D Institute (MRDI) and the launch of two pilot production lines for third-generation semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride.

HKIC, a major source of patient capital, has been expanding investments in hard tech and semiconductors and plays a coordinating role among its portfolio companies as Hong Kong seeks to deepen its innovation ecosystem.

The government is also channeling public R&D funding into semiconductor research through university-industry partnerships. One HKUST-backed project focuses on energy-efficient chiplets and secure sensor technologies for potential medical and communications use.

Mainland startups are forging similar links. WingSemi Technology, which develops RISC-V–based processor solutions designed for domain-specific accelerators (DSAs), is working with Hong Kong universities on instruction-set extensions and low-level software required for AI and audio workloads.