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Core Insights - SiPearl has launched its long-awaited Rhea1 supercomputer chip, set for silicon sampling in early 2026, featuring 80 ARM Neoverse V1 cores and 61 billion transistors, aimed at powering Germany's Jupiter supercomputer [1][2] - The chip's development timeline has been pushed from 2024 to 2025, and now to 2026, utilizing TSMC's N6 6nm process and Samsung's four-layer high bandwidth memory [1] - SiPearl has secured an additional €32 million investment from a key Taiwanese investor, bringing its Series A funding total to €130 million, which will support upcoming Series B funding and the development of the next-generation Rhea2 processor [1][3] Company Vision and Strategy - SiPearl's CEO emphasizes the importance of independently developed hardware for Europe's sovereignty in AI and strategic sectors, showcasing Europe's capability to compete globally [2] - The company was initially funded by the EU under the European Processor Initiative (EPI) and has established a team of 200 employees across France, Spain, and Italy, along with a sovereign infrastructure in northern France [2][5] - Rhea1 will be integral to various European collaborative projects aimed at enhancing Europe's sovereign cloud and supporting simulations in strategic fields like engineering and materials research [3][5] Investment and Partnerships - The completion of Series A funding has attracted new investors, including Cathay Capital, marking its first investment in France, as the firm anticipates a growing semiconductor penetration across all market segments [3][4] - SiPearl's current investors include ARM, Atos Group, the French government, the European Investment Bank, and the European Investment Committee [4] - The company aims to strengthen ties with Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain, recognizing Taiwan's leadership in the global semiconductor industry [4][5] Technological Development and Performance - SiPearl has validated its designs using hardware simulators that replicate real data center environments, demonstrating excellent power performance even before production [5] - The Rhea1 processor is expected to significantly enhance Europe's technological autonomy in the supercomputing domain, marking a milestone in the European Processor Initiative [6] - The French government supports SiPearl as part of its 2030 investment plan, recognizing the strategic importance of developing complex high-performance CPUs for European sovereignty [5][6]