Our mission
The Barcelona Zettascala Lab’s mission is to position Europe as a global leader in high-performance computing (HPC). Innovating the design and manufacture of advanced chips, Europe will drive the technological sustainability and foster a robust ecosystem that includes both hardware and software.
We collaborate with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) and count with the support of the NextGenerationEU program, aligned with the strategic objectives of the European Union. Our commitment are to uncover technological solutions that enable significant advances in science, industry and society guaranteeing a competitive and sustainable digital future for all European citizens.
General Description
The BSC-CNS will lead the Barcelona Zettascale Laboratory (BZL) project with the aim of enhancing the capacity of Europe in the design of high-performance computing chips. This critical step is directed towards logging European technological stability. Our new laboratory focuses on creating prototypes based on RISC-V technology, with the aim to develop advanced processor prototypes that will eventually be integrated into the future of European supercomputers.
The initiative will reduce Europe’s dependence on third-party hardware for supercomputers and other industrial applications such as autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI). With this objective, the BSC-CNS supports the development of open hardware and collaborates with national and European partners from projects such as the European Processor Initiative (EPI).
Open source architecture
The Barcelona Zettascale Laboratory supports the RISC-V community committed to contributing to the RISC-V ecosystem through innovations, collaborations and exchange of experiences. We promote the advancement of RISC-V technology through the advancedment of prototypes and the development of compatible software, that will be crucial for the future European supercomputers.
Our laboratory works in close collaboration with national and international partners to ensure that our projects not only meet the highest standards of technological innovation, but also promote sustainability and energy efficiency. We are convinced that collaboration and the exchange of knowledge are essential to strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Latest News
Barcelona Zettascale Lab advances European technological sovereignty as Cinco Ranch TC1 chip passes validation
Tests confirm the robustness of the new open-source chip architecture, positioning the BSC-led lab among Europe’s leaders in advanced computing The Barcelona Zettascale Lab (BZL), a project led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de...
Barcelona Zettascale Lab showcases its progress in next-generation RISC-V–based HPC chip design at HiPEAC 2026
The presence at HiPEAC 2026 combined technological demonstrations, participation in key workshops, and a strong commitment to boosting European innovation in HPC.Several members of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center at the Barcelona Zettascale Lab booth at HiPEAC...
Barcelona Zettascale Lab strengthens its presence across key semiconductor and chip design events
Over the past months, the Barcelona Zettascale Lab (BZL) has actively participated in a range of leading events across the chip design, semiconductor, and high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem. This presence reflects BZL’s commitment to advancing RISC-V,...