RISC-V and the Future of Chip Design
“Chip design in Pakistan is absolutely crucial for the sovereignty of Pakistan. Chips are in everything,” said Naveed Sherwani, President and Chief Executive of SiFive, a Silicon Valley–based Pakistani leading the first fabless semiconductor company to build customized silicon using the open-source RISC-V architecture. SiFive designs processors based on RISC-V, which allows countries and companies to develop their own secure microchips, reducing reliance on foreign technologies and supply chains.
Sherwani has founded/co-founded nine technology companies in the United States and previously worked at Intel Corporation as co-founder of Intel Microelectronics Services. His experience in Silicon Valley has positioned him as a prominent advocate for RISC-V technology, aiming to expand its adoption globally while highlighting opportunities for skilled professionals in Pakistan.
Holding a PhD from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Sherwani envisions strengthening Pakistan’s role in chip design and promoting RISC-V adoption. The architecture, which started at UC Berkeley in 2010, is open source and allows countries to independently design processors, contributing to national technological sovereignty.
Chips are embedded in virtually every aspect of modern infrastructure—from mobile phones and telecom networks to government services, financial systems, defense systems, and satellites. Reliance on foreign chips carries risks, including potential external control over technology and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.
“If you do not make your own chips, you depend on another country to provide that technology, which means your telecom, mobile phones, government services, payment and financial systems, defense, and satellites—all depend on chips supplied by someone else.”
The U.S.-China trade war has underscored the strategic importance of semiconductor self-sufficiency. In response, China adopted RISC-V technology to reduce dependence on U.S. designs and build its own processors. This shift requires approximately 500,000 skilled professionals over the next five to seven years, and Sherwani believes Pakistani youth could contribute up to 100,000 professionals, either in China or through local design centers, potentially bringing $3–4 billion in foreign exchange annually.
To support this goal, Sherwani aims to collaborate with universities in Pakistan to introduce RISC-V curricula, reducing professional training time from one year to six months and preparing students for high-paying technical roles.
SiFive itself follows a “Red Hat model” for RISC-V. Founded in 2015, it began with collaborations involving researchers from Berkeley, MIT, and Stanford. Major corporations, including Intel, Samsung, Qualcomm, Hynix, and Western Digital, invested in the company, helping it grow into a global network. Sister companies such as Sci-Fan in China and Semi-Five in Korea have further expanded their international presence, forming a network of 7–8 companies advancing RISC-V technology worldwide.
Beyond technology, Sherwani has focused on economic development in Pakistan. He launched the Invest in Pakistan Forum, connecting Pakistani entrepreneurs with U.S.-based investors, guiding them on starting businesses, navigating licensing and regulatory processes, and highlighting success stories such as Airlift, which raised $12 million. The forum also emphasizes the role of overseas Pakistanis in mentoring new entrepreneurs and sharing experiences to help shape balanced narratives about Pakistan.
Sherwani believes national development depends on three key priorities: investing in China, collaborating with China on technology projects, and investing in Pakistani youth by providing education, opportunities, and guidance. Through these steps, he hopes to cultivate a generation of skilled professionals capable of strengthening Pakistan’s technological and economic resilience.
By combining technology, education, and international collaboration, Sherwani envisions a future where Pakistan not only develops its own chips but also secures a stronger place in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
What happens if we continue to rely on foreign countries for making chips? Let us know in the comments!
This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools.
