According to reports, American chipmaker Qualcomm launches its Chennai Design Center which has been built with an investment of Rs. 177.27 crore. It will specialize in wireless connectivity solutions, with a focus on innovations that complement Wi-Fi technologies.

The company said that the center would actively contribute to Qualcomm's global Research and Development endeavors in 5G cellular technologies and is expected to generate jobs for up to 1,600 skilled technology professionals.

Furthermore, it added that the financial commitment will also open up new avenues for semiconductor design and provide growth prospects for a thriving indigenous design ecosystem.

Cristiano Amon, president of Qualcomm, says “A lot of the company's chips are engineered and designed in India and that the team in Chennai is going to drive Qualcomm's innovation roadmap in Wi-Fi technology.”

“The Chennai team has been instrumental in developing breakthrough technologies in Wi-Fi and our number one leadership position in Wi-Fi worldwide. They develop chips for leading technologies such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7, which is the latest standard of Wi-Fi chips. The investments that we have made in India are very significant, in excess of a billion dollars. So it is a significant investment that we will make and continue to make as we grow,” adds Amon.

The established IT industry in India is populated by numerous multinational corporations, which has created a favorable environment for tech talent to flourish, according to Qualcomm, who is anticipating the growth possibilities presented by the country.

“The new Design Centre in Chennai is a critical asset to support Qualcomm’s commitment to Make in India strategy. With R&D as the center’s core expertise, it will be a key enabler in Qualcomm’s business growth and will accelerate the growth of market adoption of advanced wireless tech solutions,” says Rahul Patel, Group General Manager, Connectivity, Broadband & Networking (CBN), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.