Arm Expands Flexible Access Program to Armv9 Edge AI Platform

Oct 20, 2025
Arm Holdings has expanded its Flexible Access licensing program to include its Armv9 edge AI platform, offering startups and device makers low-cost access to chip design tools for on-device AI development.

Arm Holdings Plc has expanded its Flexible Access licensing program to include its Armv9 edge AI platform, announced in a press release. The update gives startups and device manufacturers low-cost access to chip design tools, training, and resources for developing AI capabilities directly on devices.

The Armv9 edge AI platform features the Cortex-A320 CPU and Ethos-U85 NPU, supporting AI models with over one billion parameters. It also incorporates security features such as Pointer Authentication Code, Branch Target Identification, and Memory Tagging Extension to protect data and applications at the edge.

Through Flexible Access, companies can experiment with Arm’s technology at little or no upfront cost, paying license fees only when final designs are ready for production. The program currently includes over 300 members and has resulted in more than 400 completed chip designs. Participants include hardware firms like Raspberry Pi, SiMa.ai, and Hailo Technologies Ltd.

The Cortex-A320 will be available through the program in November 2025, with the Ethos-U85 processor following in early 2026.

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