In a context where supercalculerors have become strategic tools for medical research, nuclear simulation and artificial intelligence, the absence of European microprocessors is a structural weakness that Europe must correct and all the more quickly, with regard to news. If political initiatives have made it possible to structure a competitive ecosystem around the program Eurohpcthey have so far not allowed the emergence of a champion capable of competing with Intel, AMD or Nvidia.
Sipearl is part of this desire for sovereignty, but with a double challenge. On the one hand, prove that its microprocessor Rhea Can compete with existing solutions in terms of performance and energy efficiency. On the other hand, demonstrate that Europe can design and produce advanced semiconductors, without depending on foreign technologies.
High-Performance Computing: a changing sector to exascale
The HPC industry is at the dawn of the Exascale era, where the supercomputer will exceed the bar of the exaflop, one billion billion operations per second. This objective is accompanied by another challenge: to control the energy consumption of these machines while guaranteeing their computing power.
The dominant market architectures, widely developed by American and Asian actors, integrate Hybrid CPU-GPUoptimized for workloads in artificial intelligence and scientific simulation. These solutions benefit from years of software and material optimization, and above all, they have a well -established development ecosystem.
Sipearl must impose itself in the face of these actors by providing a real technical differentiation. However, so far, details on Rhea remain limited. The number of hearts, the supported PCIe version, the Flops/W ratio or even thermal management are not yet revealed. To convince HPC actors, these data must be highlighted quickly, under penalty of seeing the calculation centers favor already proven alternatives.
RHEA, an eco-efficate and open HPC microprocessor
Sipearl focuses on Rheaa chip based on architecture ARM NEOVERSE V1thought to function with different accelerators, whether GPU, specialized in artificial or quantum intelligence. This interoperability, supported by agreements with AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Graphcoreconstitutes a strategic asset, because it allows European calculation centers to integrate Rhea Without depending on a single technological chain.
One of the arguments put forward is theEnergy optimizationwhich would allow a reduction in half of consumption for equivalent power. However, without benchmarks or concrete measures, this assertion remains difficult to assess. To establish its credibility, Sipearl must quickly publish test results, in particular on fundamental operations such as scalar products in floating 64-bit, the management of vector units Sveor the frequency scaling according to the thermal budget.
The challenge is to prove that Rhea is not just a Rebadgé arm neroversse with a stamp “Made in France, BPI France approved”but a microprocessor designed specifically for HPC needs. As long as these results are not available, the chip will remain a concept more than a credible alternative to existing solutions.
Structured governance, but a rise in power to validate
Founded and managed by Philippe NottonSipearl relies on a team of 130 engineers Distributed in France, Germany and Spain. Management has strengthened around an experienced management team covering all of the strategic functions necessary for industrialization and marketing of its microprocessor Rhea. Alongside Philippe Notton,, Laure Perfetti pilot the group’s human resources, while Ying-Chih Yangas Chief Technical Officer, supervises technological innovation. Gaël PaulSenior Vice-President Engineering, coordinates technical developments, supported by Vivian Blanchardin charge of hardware R&D, and Vincent CasillasHead of Software and System R&D.
On the commercial and partnership component, Christophe MénardGroup CCO, and Craig PruntyVice-President Product Marketing, define the expansion and product positioning strategies. Anna Riverolain charge of international development and research programs, as well as Matteo TonelliCountry Manager for Italy, support the internationalization of the project.
Financial and investors are managed by Jean-Luc GilbertGroup CFO and responsible for investor relations, while Cornelia EmmerlichGeneral Counsel, ensures the legal governance of the group.
D‘here at the end of 2025 Sipearl pursues the ambitious objective of strengthening its teams to accelerate the production and optimization of RHEA, the figure of 1000 employees was planned during the last round, but remains to be confirmed
However, the structure fabless of the company imposes total dependence on TSMC for manufacturing. At a time when the semiconductor industry faces supply tensions and a high concentration of production capacities, this dependence could represent a strategic limit to the development of society.
Graduated from Centrale SupélecPhilippe Notton has always been passionate about electronics. From its beginnings with Thomson In 1994, he aims to design electronic equipment, thus laying the basics of a course resolutely turned towards innovation.
In 1997, he joined Canal+ inasmuch as System Team Managerat a time when the company is at the forefront of digital television. His expertise then leads him to MSTAR semiconductorTaiwanese start-up which he contributes to imposing on the European market before its resale on Mediatek.
In 2015, he took the lead in the division Consumer Electronics Products at the house of Stmicroelectronics In Grenoble, but the withdrawal of the digital sector group in 2017 marks a turning point. Aware of the growing need for high performance calculation, he decides to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure.
When the European Commission launches a call for tenders for a European supercaluler, it integrates Atosprogram coordinator European Processor Initiative (EPI). In less than two years, the project was born with support for 80 million euros of the European Union.
In June 2019Philippe Notton takes a new step by founding Sipearlwith the ambition to develop Rheathe first microprocessor HPC Sovereign and eco-efficiency, dedicated to European supercalcupers. A strategic bet, aimed at strengthening the technological independence of Europe in the face of American and Asian giants.
Sipearl, a key player in the Eurohpc program
Sipearl benefits from the support of the initiative European Processor Initiative (EPI)which brings together industrial and academic partners around a common vision: reduce Europe’s dependence to foreign technologies in the field of high performance calculation. By collaborating with Eurohpcthe company has access to funding and strategic infrastructure to test and deploy Rhea in European supercalcuals.
Ultimately, Sipearl aims to extend its market beyond European calculation centers, by exploiting the potential of Rhea In cloud and artificial intelligence applications. However, to cross this CAP, it will be necessary to convince customers outside the programs financed by the European Union, a challenge all the greater as the competing alternatives are already largely adopted by the industry.
Financing: 90 million euros for a first step
Sipearl raised 90 million euros during a first closure of series A, with the participation of strategic actors such as ARM, ATOS (via its subsidiary Eviden), the European Innovation Fund (EIC Fund), the French State via French Tech Sovereignty and the European Investment Bank (BEI). Including European and French subsidiestotal funding reaches 110.5 million eurosa substantial amount, but still insufficient to compete with the investments made by the major HPC players.
