STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Enter into Strategic Cooperation on Wireless Internet of Things

• Strategic collaboration combines STMicroelectronics’ market-leading STM32 microcontroller ecosystem with Qualcomm’s world-leading wireless connectivity solutions

• Seamless integration of Qualcomm wireless connectivity solutions into ST’s existing STM32 developer ecosystem makes development of next-generation industrial and consumer IoT applications based on edge AI easier, faster, and more cost-effective

October 10, 2024, China - STMicroelectronics (ST), a world-leading semiconductor company serving multiple electronic applications, and Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. (QTI), a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, recently announced that the two parties have reached a new strategic agreement to jointly develop the next generation of industrial and consumer IoT solutions based on edge AI . The two parties will give full play to their complementary advantages, starting with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol system-on-chip SoCs, integrating Qualcomm Technologies' advanced AI wireless connectivity technology with STMicroelectronics' market-leading microcontroller (MCU) ecosystem. Through this collaboration, developers will enjoy wireless software that is seamlessly integrated into STM32 general-purpose MCUs, including software toolkits, and can promote rapid and widespread market adoption of the solution through STMicroelectronics' global sales and agency channels.

“Wireless connectivity is key to the rapid adoption of edge AI, which is increasingly being used in enterprise, industrial, and personal devices,” said Remi El-Ouazzane, president of STMicroelectronics’ Microcontroller, Digital IC, and RF Division (MDRF). “ST has chosen Qualcomm Technologies to enter into a strategic wireless connectivity partnership, starting with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multiprotocol SoCs. We are also considering further collaborations to complement our existing Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, Thread, and sub-GHz multiprotocol portfolios. We hope to enhance the capabilities of each STM32 product with Qualcomm Technologies’ wireless connectivity technology, bringing tremendous value to our more than 100,000 STM32 customers worldwide.”

Rahul Patel, general manager of the connectivity, broadband and networking business unit at Qualcomm Technologies , said: "Qualcomm Technologies leads the industry in technology research and development, from groundbreaking 4G/5G to high-performance Wi-Fi to micro-power connectivity solutions, Qualcomm has promoted the development of wireless IoT technology. Our collaboration with STMicroelectronics will integrate Qualcomm's advanced wireless connectivity solutions with ST's market-leading STM32 microcontroller ecosystem, which will help feature-rich products to develop rapidly throughout the IoT industry. Together, the two parties have opened up a new experience in IoT application development, providing developers and end users with seamless development convenience and excellent wireless connectivity performance."

STMicroelectronics will launch a standalone module with Qualcomm Technologies' Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol SoC product portfolio built-in for a wider market, which can be integrated at the system level with any STM32 general-purpose microcontroller product. The optimized wireless connectivity solution will be integrated into the STMicroelectronics developer ecosystem to help developers shorten development time and time to market. The first products developed in this collaboration are expected to be available to OEMs in the first quarter of 2025, and the scope of supply will be expanded thereafter. This is just the first step in the collaboration between the two parties. The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread multi-protocol SoC product roadmap will continue to evolve over time and is planned to expand to the field of mobile cellular connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things.

“The installed base of consumer, commercial and industrial IoT devices is expected to exceed 80 billion by 2028. The emergence of products that combine high-performance wireless connectivity solutions with a wide range of microcontrollers will be the foundation for the next wave of wireless IoT innovation,” said Andrew Zignani, senior research director at ABI Research. “STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Technologies are a strong combination, thanks to ST’s cutting-edge microcontroller ecosystem and Qualcomm Technologies’ significant strength in wireless connectivity R&D. As the two sides work together to develop integrated solutions, it will help device manufacturers develop simpler, faster and more cost-effectively in the next few years to better respond to the changing IoT market.”