Two Decades of Crafting Excellence: How Hercules Micro’s FPGA Team Is Shaping the Future — A Candid Conversation with CEO Wang Haili
Integrated circuits are the foundation of the modern information era — yet for years, China has faced external technological barriers. At the heart of this landscape, FPGA chips remain the "crown jewel" of the semiconductor world. In the face of global monopolies, a determined group of innovators in China has worked relentlessly to push the boundaries of homegrown FPGA technology. Leading this charge is Dr. Wang Haili, Founder and CEO of Hercules Micro, whose vision and leadership are reshaping the future of China's semiconductor industry.
Hercules Micro stands as one of China’s earliest and most determined pioneers in the independent development, mass production, and large-scale commercialization of general-purpose FPGAs and next-generation heterogeneous programmable computing chips. Its origins trace back to an ambitious R&D team based in Tsinghua Science Park. In 2017, with over a decade of hands-on FPGA development experience, this team regrouped to establish a company built on a culture of unity and resilience.
Many of Hercules Micro’s core members came from Jing Microelectronics, one of China’s earliest FPGA ventures. Together, they endured the formidable challenge of building China’s first homegrown FPGA chips from the ground up — a journey marked by technical breakthroughs, financial hardships, and near-collapse. These hard-earned lessons forged an unshakable resolve in CEO Dr. Wang Haili, inspiring him to lead his team in pursuit of a clear mission: to elevate and perfect domestically produced FPGAs, driving China’s semiconductor innovation forward.
Hercules Micro Product Showroom
“After securing our foothold, it’s time to accelerate growth,” said Wang Haili. In 2022, building on the success of the Zihe (HME-R) and Shan (HME-M) series, Hercules Micro made a bold leap forward by launching multiple advanced 22nm FPGAs — including the Hercules (HME-H) and Pegasus (HME-P) series. This achievement positioned the company among the first in China to achieve mass production at the 22nm node, marking a significant milestone in the domestic FPGA industry’s evolution.
Today, Hercules Micro has achieved mass production across four advanced process nodes (65nm, 55nm, 40nm, and 22nm), with cumulative shipments surpassing tens of millions of units. Their FPGA solutions now power critical applications in consumer electronics, smart manufacturing, industrial power systems, security surveillance, and medical technology — driving performance, reliability, and innovation in strategic global industries.
Hercules Micro redefines the FPGA landscape with its proprietary Heterogeneous Programmable architecture — a groundbreaking approach that seamlessly integrates FPGA fabric, CPU, MCU, memory, ASIC modules, AI accelerators, and more into a single, unified chip. This innovation delivers unmatched programmability, real-time reconfigurability, scalability, high integration, and robust computing performance, all while ensuring long product lifecycles and reliable operation.
The 22nm H7 Series exemplifies this capability, combining FPGA logic, an ARM Cortex-M3 MCU, and high-capacity SRAM. It offers exceptional flexibility for application-specific optimization and customization. With proven advantages in LED displays, consumer electronics, industrial control systems, and medical devices, Hercules Micro’s solutions empower customers to accelerate innovation, improve end-product competitiveness, and capture opportunities in high-growth, specialized markets.
At the 2025 Munich Shanghai Electronica Fair, Hercules Micro captured industry attention by unveiling its cutting-edge HME-H1, HME-H7, and HME-P2 FPGA series. Among the highlights was a dynamic HME-H7-based fully rotatable LED display solution that reimagines what’s possible in commercial display technology.
Breaking free from conventional display constraints, this solution enables multi-angle rotation and irregular-shape splicing, offering unparalleled creative flexibility for commercial, event, and public space installations. Attendees witnessed firsthand how Hercules Micro’s innovative FPGA technology transforms business visualization — delivering smarter, more captivating display experiences for a digital-first world.
At the booth, Dr. Wang actively connected with users and industry peers through engaging product demos and insightful conversations. He also had an in-depth discussion with Mr. Song Shiqiang, General Manager of SLKOR Semiconductor, exchanging views on product innovation, technological evolution, and market dynamics.
Mr. Song’s expertise in market expansion provided fresh perspectives, inspiring Dr. Wang to emphasize the importance of breaking down industry silos and fostering deeper cross-sector collaboration — a vital strategy for driving innovation, unlocking new opportunities, and achieving mutual growth in the rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.
FPGA development demands more than just hardware design—it requires a seamless integration of advanced EDA toolchains. Hercules Micro stands out as one of China’s elite firms mastering six critical technologies: FPGA core design, SoC architecture, IC hardware design, EDA software development, IP application design, and heterogeneous system development.
Its world-class R&D team, comprised of experts from Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other top institutions, holds over 200 patents. Recognized as a “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative SME,” a “Little Giant” enterprise, and China’s 6th IC Unicorn, Hercules Micro has earned prestigious accolades such as the China IC Design Achievement Award, Best Processor Chip Award, and Annual Innovative Product Award—solidifying its reputation as a powerhouse of innovation and R&D excellence in the semiconductor industry.
*Hercules Micro: 2022-2023 China IC Unicorn Enterprise*
2023 China IC Design Achievement Award Trophy
2023 Best Processor Chip Award Trophy
Wang highlighted the remarkable growth of China’s FPGA industry over the past decade, now boasting two companies publicly listed on the STAR Market. While gaps with global leaders still exist, domestic firms have firmly established themselves in mid-to-low-end markets and even lead in select product segments. He called on Chinese FPGA companies to avoid duplicated efforts, harness their collective strengths, and unite to compete on the global stage. For Hercules Micro, the goal goes beyond import substitution—it’s about driving programmable technology forward through uncompromising quality and cutting-edge innovation.
Hercules Micro Honors Wall
Hercules Micro is currently developing 10–12 chips on 22nm technology, including a flagship model boasting over 1 million logic resources. Six of these chips are already in mass production, with millions shipped worldwide. Wang stressed that these highly versatile chips have long lifecycles, and unlocking their full potential depends on continuously exploring diverse application scenarios to deliver customized solutions. Looking ahead, Hercules Micro plans to optimize chip architectures and migrate to more advanced process nodes, while expanding into cutting-edge fields such as next-gen photovoltaics, smart devices (AR/VR/MR), AI, robotics, data centers, and automotive electronics.
Potential Application Scenarios for Hercules Micro FPGAs
From humble beginnings to rapid growth, Hercules Micro’s two-decade journey—and its transformative eight-year reboot—showcases a unique story in China’s FPGA industry, fueled by a relentless passion to master homegrown chip technology. Wang compares the domestic FPGA race to a 42km marathon: “We’ve run just the first 10km. The remaining 32km will require the entire Chinese FPGA community to join forces, supported by government and investors. Only through unity can we cross the finish line and claim true success.”
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