Qualcomm & STMicro Partner to Accelerate IoT Development with AI

Qualcomm and STMicroelectronics (ST) have signed a strategic collaboration to integrate Qualcomm's wireless connectivity solutions with ST's microcontroller ecosystem. This alliance aims to accelerate the development of industrial and consumer IoT applications powered by edge artificial intelligence, facilitating a more agile, cost-effective, and optimized design for developers. 

The collaboration aims to combine ST's STM32 microcontroller ecosystem, developed to handle real-time control and processing of electronic devices in IoT, industrial, and consumer applications, with Qualcomm's wireless connectivity solutions. 

This approach seeks to enable the seamless integration of connectivity software into STM32 general-purpose microcontrollers. The collaboration includes the incorporation of a Qualcomm system-on-a-chip (SoC), which combines Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread, optimizing application development within the ST ecosystem. This integration includes software toolkits that enable rapid and broad adoption through ST's global distribution channels.

Rahul Patel, Group General Manager of Qualcomm Technologies' Connectivity, Broadband and Networking business unit, noted that Qualcomm's research and development leadership has been instrumental in advancing wireless connectivity in the IoT space. 

“Together, we are creating new experiences for IoT application developers, enabling seamless integration and optimal performance for both developers and end users,” stated Patel in a Qualcomm press release.

Remi El-Ouazzane, President of ST's Digital Integrated Circuits and Microcontrollers Product Group, said wireless connectivity is a key component for the rapid adoption of edge artificial intelligence in various applications.

“We envision wireless connectivity products based on Qualcomm Technologies' technology to complement any of our STM32 products and bring significant value to our more than 100,000 STM32 customers worldwide,” said El-Ouazzane.

ST also plans to launch stand-alone modules that will use Qualcomm's combined SoC portfolio. These modules will be system-level integrable with any general-purpose STM32 microcontroller. This optimization in connectivity is expected to reduce the development time and accelerate the route to market for new IoT solutions.

The first product offerings resulting from this collaboration are scheduled to be available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the first quarter of 2025. This first step lays the foundation for a roadmap that envisions the development of additional products in the future, including cellular connectivity for industrial IoT applications. 

This collaboration takes on added relevance in the face of growing demand for high-performance wireless connectivity solutions. Andrew Zignani, senior research director at ABI Research, projects that the installed base of connected devices will reach more than 80 billion units by 2028, highlighting the need for effective IoT solutions.