Workshops Archive

Microcredentials for Open Hardware and HPC Workforce Development: The Openchip Approach with RISC-V Ecosystem

Workshop: EduHPC-25: Workshop on Education for High Performance Computing

Authors: Kateryna Bondar (Openchip and Software Technologies, S.L.); Xavier Aragonés (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya); Jordi Carrabina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona); Elly De Pelecijn (KU Leuven); Antonio Miguel Espinosa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona); José Ignacio Gómez (Universidad Complutense de Madrid); Francesc Guim (Openchip and Software Technologies, S.L.); Tomàs Margalef and Juan Carlos Moure (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona); Luís Piñuel (Universidad Complutense de Madrid); Patrick Reynaert (KU Leuven); and Ivan Rodero (Openchip and Software Technologies, S.L.)

Abstract: The semiconductor and high-performance computing (HPC) sectors face a parallel and urgent challenge: a widening skills gap amid rapid technological evolution, particularly with the rise of open hardware platforms such as RISC-V. As global initiatives like the EU Chips Act and national sovereignty strategies emphasize workforce development, traditional academic programs remain too rigid and slow to adapt. This paper presents a microcredential-based strategy for agile, modular, and industry-validated training focused on open hardware and full-stack HPC system design. Through the lens of Openchip’s approach, we explore how co-designed curricula—especially around vector-based RISC-V architectures—can modernize education to reflect emerging HPC paradigms. We also examine curricular gaps, the potential alignment with the TCPP curriculum initiative, and propose a roadmap for embedding microcredentials into scalable, open, and sovereign HPC education ecosystems.

Back to EduHPC-25: Workshop on Education for High Performance Computing Archive Listing Back to Full Workshop Archive Listing