Qualcomm, a leading semiconductor company, has announced its plan to help large and mid-size companies establish semiconductor units in India as one of its top priorities for 2024. In addition to this initiative, Qualcomm is also investing heavily in India, particularly in design, research, and development across major cities like Noida, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
The President of Qualcomm India, Savi Soin, stated that the company’s extensive scale and expertise enable them to drive the semiconductor ecosystem in India, just as they have done in other parts of the world. They are actively seeking partnerships with small, local semiconductor companies to fill product gaps and augment their offerings. Qualcomm India’s business team and venture capital arm, Qualcomm Ventures, are actively exploring collaboration opportunities with Indian companies. The company also has a semiconductor mentorship program in place to support and accelerate the semiconductor strategy in India.
As part of its expansion plans, Qualcomm has recently announced the establishment of a new design center in Chennai, focused on the development of connectivity products for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7. This center of excellence will facilitate the creation of up to 1,600 skilled jobs. Soin confirmed that this is just the beginning of their investments in India, with plans to invest across more centers in the coming years.
Qualcomm is also keenly interested in India’s startup ecosystem. The company’s various teams, including Qualcomm Ventures, are actively involved in identifying and supporting startups in India. According to Soin, nurturing these startups is among the top priorities for Qualcomm in India, as building successful companies in the country is of great importance to their overall growth strategy.
Looking ahead, Qualcomm India has already started working on future technologies such as 6G and next-generation satellite communications. Soin emphasized the need for successful adoption of 5G in India before moving on to 6G, and highlighted the importance of India-specific use cases and resolving certain business model issues. The company is also exploring the potential of satellite communications in India, particularly for emergency communications and areas where traditional telecom services face challenges.
With its commitment to expanding operations, investment in local talent, and support for startups, Qualcomm aims to play a significant role in shaping India’s semiconductor industry and driving technological innovation in the country.