Rust support is getting better. Our Rust OS is lower priority but it is needed for our tagged ISA support since we need language extensions to add security semantics to pointers. Also Rust is a much safer language. We need all this since safety critical systems is a key Shakti target.

Is this similar to the stuff lowrisc is doing?

Yes, we are also collaborating with them. The HW is the simpler problem to solve. SW life-cycle for creating tags, embedding them in the code and ensuring that teh binary has not been tampered is the challenge and to ensure portable tag semantics. We have a dedicated security group working on it. Unlike US universities we have carte blanche for hiring faculty and scholarships for MS/PhD. Funding is not the issue, getting good faculty and students is ! Some of you should head over here for an MS or PhD.