Qualcomm Acquires Arduino for Edge AI Expansion

Qualcomm Technologies has announced plans to acquire Arduino, the open-source hardware and software platform known for democratizing embedded development. The move strengthens Qualcomm’s strategy to make its edge computing and AI technologies more accessible to a global community of innovators.

For eeNews Europe readers — engineers, embedded developers, and IoT designers — this acquisition marks a pivotal convergence between high-performance processing and the simplicity of open-source prototyping. It signals a new phase in accessible AI and edge design, where rapid prototyping and commercial deployment grow closer than ever. Our journalist Roberto Armani attended the "From Blink to Think" event and announcement in Turin, Italy, on Tuesday. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days.

Bringing Edge AI to the Maker and Professional Communities

The acquisition will merge Qualcomm’s processing, graphics, computer vision, and AI capabilities with Arduino’s large global user base of more than 33 million active members. Arduino will continue to operate independently, maintaining its open-source ethos while tapping into Qualcomm’s technology stack, cloud infrastructure, and global partner network.

The result is an expanded ecosystem where students, startups, and industrial developers alike can leverage Qualcomm’s edge technologies through Arduino’s familiar tools and frameworks. This combination is expected to accelerate development cycles and lower the barriers to deploying intelligent systems across markets such as smart home, automation, and industrial IoT.

“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, Group General Manager, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Arduino has built a vibrant global community of developers and creators. By combining their open-source ethos with Qualcomm Technologies’ portfolio of leading edge products and technologies, we’re helping enable millions of developers to create intelligent solutions faster and more efficiently—including a path towards global commercialization by leveraging the scale of our ecosystem.”

The Arduino UNO Q and App Lab

Central to the announcement is the new Arduino UNO Q, the first Arduino board powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor. Featuring a “dual brain” design that combines a Linux Debian-capable microprocessor with a real-time microcontroller, the UNO Q bridges high-performance computing and real-time control, enabling what Arduino calls “AI in a blink.”

The UNO Q debuts with the Arduino App Lab, a new unified development environment that integrates Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows. App Lab aims to simplify prototyping and accelerate deployment for AI-enabled systems, while maintaining full compatibility with the existing Arduino IDE and ecosystem.

“Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation,” said Fabio Violante, CEO, Arduino. “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.”

For Europe’s embedded and IoT engineering community, Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino represents more than corporate consolidation. It’s a sign that the open-source movement is now central to the future of edge AI innovation.