CAST Simplifies RISC-V Embedded Processor IP Adoption with New Catalyst Program

In a move poised to accelerate the integration of open-source processor architectures into resource-constrained devices, semiconductor IP provider CAST, Inc. unveiled its Catalyst™ Program on October 22, 2025, at the RISC-V Summit in Santa Clara, California. This initiative addresses a persistent pain point for embedded system developers: the overwhelming configurability of RISC-V processors. By offering pre-tuned, ready-to-deploy IP cores alongside flexible licensing and expert support, CAST aims to strip away the complexity, enabling faster prototyping and deployment in low-power, cost-sensitive applications like IoT sensors, wearables, and industrial controllers.

RISC-V, the royalty-free instruction set architecture, has exploded in popularity since its inception in 2010, promising customization and vendor neutrality in a market dominated by proprietary cores from Arm and others. Yet, its flexibility with hundreds of extensions and options can paralyze small teams lacking deep expertise. CAST, a veteran IP firm founded in 1993 with a portfolio spanning processors, security modules, and interfaces, leverages its 30 years of experience to bridge this gap. Sourcing cores from partners like Beyond Semiconductor and Fraunhofer IPMS, the Catalyst Program delivers silicon-proven 32-bit RISC-V solutions optimized for embedded realities, not exhaustive versatility.

At the heart of Catalyst are five meticulously preconfigured processor cores, each tailored to distinct embedded use cases. These eliminate the “configuration overload” that Bill Finch, CAST’s senior business development vice president, describes as unnecessary for 90% of developers.

The lineup spans from ultra-minimalist to feature-rich designs:

• BA5x-TN: A tiny MCU-class core (~17k gates) for basic control tasks, such as sensor hubs or always-on logic, serving as a seamless 8/16-bit replacement with robust performance in minimal silicon area.
• BA5x-LP: A low-power workhorse with configurable caches, interrupts, and bus interfaces, ideal for general-purpose industrial systems demanding balanced efficiency.
• BA5x-CM: RTOS-ready with hardware floating-point and atomic operations, targeting connected IoT and wearables where multitasking meets real-time constraints.
• BA5x-EP: An edge powerhouse featuring dual/single-precision FPU, MMU, and optional hypervisor for secure, multi-OS environments in gateways or complex controllers.
• EMSA5-GP: Vector-enhanced for parallel workloads like FFTs, sensor fusion, and packet processing, adding RISC-V Vector extension subsets without bloating area.

These cores promise predictable power, performance, and area metrics, verified through CAST’s rigorous validation. Developers can integrate them into ASICs or FPGAs immediately, bypassing weeks of tweaking.

What truly distinguishes Catalyst is its risk-mitigating ecosystem. Licensing flips the traditional model: no upfront fees for full-featured evaluation kits, allowing simulation, benchmarking, and design integration sans commitment. Only upon production commitment does the fee apply, with transparent terms, no royalties, and optional extended support. Direct access to CAST’s senior engineers during evaluation, guiding customization and tuning, ensures smooth onboarding. As Evan Price, CAST’s RISC-V product manager, puts it: “Catalyst reduces complications to let embedded system teams focus on innovation… without surprises.”

This program arrives at a pivotal moment. The embedded market, projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030, demands RISC-V’s cost advantages amid supply chain volatility and geopolitical tensions over proprietary IP. Yet adoption lags in ultra-low-power segments due to integration hurdles. Catalyst democratizes access, potentially slashing time-to-market by months and lowering barriers for startups and mid-tier firms. Early adopters could see 20-30% area reductions versus over-configured alternatives, per CAST benchmarks, while inheriting battle-tested reliability from hundreds of global deployments.

Critics might argue pre-configuration limits ultimate flexibility, but Finch counters: “They don’t want to wade through everything that RISC-V offers just to get started.” For most, Catalyst’s “good enough” spectrum suffices, with paths to deeper customization post-evaluation. It embodies RISC-V’s ethos open and adaptable while pragmatically guiding users to success.

Bottom line:  CAST’s Catalyst Program isn’t mere IP; it’s a launchpad for RISC-V’s embedded renaissance. By fusing proven tech with developer-friendly economics, it could catalyze widespread adoption, fostering innovation in edge AI, smart cities, and beyond. As the industry pivots to open architectures, programs like this ensure no team is left configuring in the dark. For details, visit CAST’s RISC-V page or reach out to their sales team—your next embedded breakthrough awaits.

Contact CAST Here

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