Qualcomm Technologies has announced an agreement to acquire Arduino, the open-source hardware and software company. The acquisition is part of Qualcomm’s strategy to make its edge computing and AI technologies more accessible to developers, following its recent integrations of Edge Impulse and Foundries.io.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, aims to combine Qualcomm’s processing, graphics, and AI capabilities with Arduino’s large developer ecosystem. Arduino will continue to operate as an independent brand with its open-source mission and will maintain support for microcontrollers from multiple semiconductor providers. The more than 33 million active users in the Arduino community will gain access to Qualcomm’s technology stack and a clearer path to commercializing their projects.
New hardware: The Arduino UNO Q
Alongside the acquisition, the companies announced the Arduino UNO Q, a next-generation single-board computer.
- It features a “dual-brain” architecture with a Linux-capable microprocessor and a real-time microcontroller.
- It is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor, running a full Linux environment.
- The board is designed to enable AI-powered vision and sound solutions for applications ranging from smart home systems to industrial automation.
New software: Arduino App Lab
To support the new hardware, the companies also introduced Arduino App Lab, a new integrated development environment (IDE). The open-source platform is designed to unify the development process across Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows, making it faster and easier to prototype and scale AI-powered solutions. App Lab also integrates with the Edge Impulse platform to streamline the process of building and optimizing AI models.
Executive commentary on the acquisition
“With our acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and now Arduino, we are accelerating our vision to democratize access to our leading‑edge AI and computing products for the global developer community.”
said Nakul Duggal, a group general manager at Qualcomm Technologies.
“Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation. The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning— we’re excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable, and open to everyone.”
said Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino.
