Qualcomm has acquired chip designer Ventana Micro Systems, which develops server processors based on the RISC-V architecture.

The deal for California-based Ventana was announced this week. Terms have not been disclosed.

According to Qualcomm, the move underscores “its commitment to advancing the RISC-V standard and ecosystem.”

“This strategic move strengthens Qualcomm’s CPU capabilities by integrating Ventana’s expertise in RISC-V ISA development,” a statement said. “The Ventana team will complement Qualcomm’s ongoing RISC-V and custom Oryon CPU development, further advancing technology leadership in the AI era across all businesses.”

RISC-V is an open-source architecture that aims to offer an alternative to the dominant Arm and x86 ecosystems. Ventana is one of several vendors developing RISC-V data center chips, but so far, deployments have been limited.

Qualcomm said the Ventana team would complement its existing efforts in RISC-V, as well as the firm’s Oryon custom CPU team. The chipmaker has been working on its own Arm-based chips since acquiring Nuvia in 2021.

“We believe the RISC-V instruction set architecture has the potential to advance the frontier on CPU technology, enabling innovation across products,” said Durga Malladi, executive vice president and general manager, technology planning, edge solutions, and datacenter, Qualcomm Technologies.

“The acquisition of Ventana Micro Systems marks a pivotal step in our journey to deliver industry-leading RISC-V based CPU technology across products,”

Ventana has so far experienced several delays in shipping its products. The first version of the company’s Veryon processor never made it to the market, and the current iteration, the V2, has also yet to see the light of day. When DCD spoke to the company in 2024, it said the Veryon V2 would be out in 2025, but the Ventana website now points to availability in 2026.

“We are thrilled to join the Qualcomm team and contribute our RISC-V expertise in the development of Qualcomm’s leading Oryon CPU technology,” said Balaji Baktha, CEO of Ventana Micro Systems. “Qualcomm’s acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for our team, and we look forward to joining Qualcomm’s team to push the boundaries of energy-efficient high-performance for next-generation products and experiences.”