Grand Opening of Qualcomm's Latest Chennai Venture

Qualcomm, a leading semiconductor giant, is set to unveil its latest design center at Ramanujan IT City in Chennai on March 14th. Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, will be presiding over the inauguration of this new facility, as initially announced during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet held in January.

In a statement made in January 2024, Qualcomm disclosed its intention to invest Rs 177.27 crore in expanding its presence in Chennai with the establishment of a new design center. This facility will specialize in wireless connectivity solutions, focusing on innovations that complement Wi-Fi technologies. The announcement, made during the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in Chennai, outlined Qualcomm’ s commitment to investing in the region.

The planned investment of approximately ₹177 crore aims to establish a new design centre that is expected to create employment opportunities for up to 1,600 professionals. Qualcomm’s decision to invest in Chennai underscores its strategic vision for growth and innovation in the region.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, Qualcomm is a renowned multinational corporation engaged in the design and manufacturing of semiconductors, software, and telecommunications  equipment. The company is widely recognized for its cutting-edge wireless technologies and the Snapdragon line of processors, which power numerous smartphones and other mobile devices. Qualcomm’s technological prowess extends to various sectors, including mobile communications, automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), and computing.

The Chennai center will specialize in wireless connectivity solutions and will play a significant role in advancing Qualcomm’s global research and development efforts in 5G technology. India stands as Qualcomm’s second-largest research and development base outside the United States.

With existing research and development centers in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Noida, Qualcomm currently boasts a workforce of approximately 17,000 employees in the country. Among those attending the inauguration ceremony will be other key executives, including Qualcomm India President Savi Soin and the head of the Chennai center, Mahesh Moorthy.