Chip design company Codasip is selling its low-end RISC-V processor design business and moving to reshape its business structure. It plans to move away from general-purpose design and focus on security-centric architecture.

On April 9, IT outlet TechRadar reported that Codasip plans to separate and sell its low-spec RISC-V processor core business used in embedded, automotive and industrial hardware. The buyer was not disclosed, but the industry is citing U.S.-listed semiconductor company GlobalFoundries as a leading candidate.

The sale covers processor cores targeting the embedded market, where demand is high for power efficiency and custom design. Codasip plans to wind down the business and instead focus its capabilities on security-focused chip architecture and system-level product development.

GlobalFoundries has drawn attention as a candidate buyer because of its moves over the past year. The company already holds MIPS technology and is also pursuing an acquisition of Synopsys’ ARC-V processor IP. If it also secures Codasip’s low-end RISC-V cores, it would be able to expand its portfolio from low-power embedded to high-performance and specialized design.

The transaction also includes broad licensing for Codasip’s processor development software, Studio. The tool supports modifying processor instructions to meet user requirements. Customers would then have an option to fine-tune processors to needed functions, in addition to adopting fixed designs like existing Arm-based offerings.

This also aligns with GlobalFoundries’ business structure. The company, which started from AMD’s manufacturing division, has strengths in semiconductor production services. Analysis suggests that combining this with custom design capabilities could give it new competitiveness in automotive, industrial and edge computing markets.

Codasip plans to use the deal to strengthen its security-focused strategy. The company has presented “cyber resilience semiconductor architecture” as a core direction and plans to focus on CHERI technology. CHERI is a structure that reduces security vulnerabilities by controlling memory access at the hardware level, and is viewed as an approach that complements the limits of software-based security.

Codasip Chief Executive Ron Black (론 블랙) said, “Cyber resilience has become a strategic requirement for governments, infrastructure operators and technology companies alike.” He added, “We are moving away from adding security after the fact and focusing on embedding security into the computing architecture itself.”

The deal is expected to be completed within about a month. If the buyer is confirmed as GlobalFoundries, the company would expand its business scope from manufacturing to processor technology. Codasip, meanwhile, is expected to accelerate its shift away from general-purpose design toward becoming a security-specialized semiconductor company.