Nordic Semi extends ARM IP deal for AI under new CEO
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Nordic Semiconductor has signed a multi-year ARM Total Access (ATA) license for access to the widest range of ARM IP, tools, support, and training for its current and future products as a new CEO joins.
The new deal extends the long-term partnership between the companies, stretching back to the launch of the ARM-powered Nordic nRF51 Series multiprotocol Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) in 2012 and extending to multiprotocol, Wi-Fi, cellular IoT, and DECT NR+ devices.
Although Nordic has shipped billions of chips using ARM Cortex-M technology, it has also been looking at the alternative RISC-V technology in recent months. Nordic is taking pains to point out that its future product roadmap includes chips that will use ARM IP.
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Nordic’s current nRF51, nRF52, nRF53, nRF54L, and nRF54H Series multiprotocol Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), and the nRF91 Series cellular IoT and DECT NR+ Systems-in-Package (SiPs) use ARM Cortex-M controller cores. Nordic also uses related ARM IP in its products together with design tools that make it easy to develop application software to run on ARM devices.
Nordic’s fourth generation of multiprotocol SoCs, which includes the nRF54H20, points to the inclusion of machine learning and edge AI capabilities. The nRF54H20 features multiple ARM Cortex-M33 processors and security IP.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Arm through this ATA licensing agreement,” said Svein-Egil Nielsen, CTO/EVP R&D with Nordic. “Nordic has gained its reputation as a leading vendor of low power wireless technology in large part through its relationship with ARM. Today, our product roadmap builds on this legacy by leveraging even more powerful processors and multicore solutions to run the most advanced application software and machine learning [ML] models. Through this agreement we will have unlimited access to the leading-edge processor and security technology demanded by those products.”
The ARM ATA license covers the widest range of leading-edge and emerging Arm IP products, tools, support, and training. It allows access to IP at any time during the lifetime of a project, the flexibility to explore multiple iterations, and support for several different products in development at the same time.
This comes as Vegard Wollan took over as CEO of Nordic in January, replacing Svenn-Tore Larsen.
Wollan started his career with Nordic VLSI, which later became Nordic Semiconductor. As one of the inventor team behind the AVR microcontroller technology, Wollan in 1996 joined Atmel where he built a highly profitable high-margin USD 1 billion revenue business as VP and General Manager of the Touch and MCU Business Unit. Atmel was acquired by Microchip Technology in 2016, and Wollan went on to establish Mywo. In 2021, Mywo was merged into TouchNetix, a global innovation leader in touch technologies, where Wollan was CEO.
“I am immensely proud of what the Nordic team has achieved with bold technology choices, innovative R&D and engineering, and the forging of strong long-standing relationships with globally leading customers over the years”, says Svenn-Tore Larsen. “I am leaving a company with many opportunities and an exciting future, and we are very pleased to announce that we have an accomplished leader like Vegard to take over as I am stepping down. He is a prominent figure in the global semiconductor industry, with an exceptional background as a serial entrepreneur,” he added.
“Now I am returning to my roots in Nordic, which has grown to become an internationally recognized industry leader. I am impressed by what Svenn-Tore and his team has created and hope to bring with me new approaches to develop the organization and generate profitable growth in the years to come,” said Wollan.
www.nordicsemi.com; www.arm.com
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