Qualcomm Acquires Italian Firm Arduino in a Bid to Reach Robotics Developers

In Focus

• Qualcomm has acquired Arduino, acquisition terms were not disclosed
• Arduino makes software and hardware for prototyping robots
• Arduino will operate as an independent subsidiary of Qualcomm

U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm has acquired not-for-profit firm, Arduino. The Italian company makes software and hardware required to develop robot prototypes as well as other electronic gadgets, according to Reuters,

The chipmaker did not mention the price when announcing Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino. However, the company said Arduino will operate as an independent subsidiary, retaining its brand, tools and mission.

Boosting Qualcomm’s AI and Robotic Capabilities

The latest deal brings the chipmaker closer to robotics. Qualcomm is a leading supplier of mobile phone chips. But the chip manufacturer has been expanding to fields like wireless earphones, laptops, connected vehicles, and industrial machines to diversify its revenue. Last month, Qualcomm and BMW launched an automated driving system for hands-free highway driving.

The Qualcomm Arduino deal gives the chip manufacturer access to an open-source platform with over 33 million developers. By acquiring Arduino, Qualcomm expects to earn the legitimacy and loyalty of these startups and developers as the need for powerful chips and AI to power robots and electronic devices increases.

It is worth noting that:

• Arduino products cannot be used to manufacture commercial products
• But Arduino products are instrumental for developing proof of concepts and testing
• Qualcomm will market its chips to developers on Arduino’s platform commercially
• Marketing to be done when experiments become products

“You start to move towards prototyping, proof of concepts, and once you’re ready, you can go commercial, which is something we are obviously very familiar with,” Qualcomm’s General Manager for Automotive, industrial, and embedded Internet of Things Nakul Duggal said.

How will Arduino’s Acquisition Benefit Developers?

Qualcomm chips have been inaccessible to startups and individual developers because they’re sold in large quantities to big enterprises. Qualcomm’s competitor NVIDIA has been able to market developer kits of its robotic chips. The kits retail for as low as $249.

Robotics is NVIDIA’s second largest growth opportunity after AI. In June 2025, NVIDIA and Foxconn started exploring ways to leverage humanoid robots for AI server production. To catch up with the competition, Qualcomm said Arduino will be launching a board powered by a Qualcomm chip. The board, which is known as Uno Q, will retail at between $45 and $55 and will be powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing chip.

The board will be ideal for devices like robots that require computational power that’s equivalent to a phone or computer, and real-time control over elements like wheels and wings. According to Qualcomm, this will be the first board to leverage its latest coding tool called AppLab. With Arduino’s AppLab, developers can bridge the coding languages used in robots and those in complex AI systems.

Quick Preview of the Qualcomm-Arduino Deal

• The acquisition deal brings Qualcomm closer to robotics
• Qualcomm gets access to an open-source platform with over 33 million developers
• Arduino will launch a board powered by Qualcomm’s Dragonwing chip
• Arduino board will be the first to leverage Qualcomm’s latest coding tool, AppLab

Qualcomm’s Plan to Maintain Arduino’s Ecosystem

Arduino is mostly used by students globally to learn coding and programming of electronic devices. Professional engineers also use Arduino’s prototyping kit to create prototypes fast. Besides Qualcomm, Arduino software and hardware are compatible with chips developed by different providers.

Arduino boards use lighter processors, and chips manufactured by firms such as STMicroelectronics and Microchip. In November 2024, STMicroelectronics experienced a stock slump after it reviewed growth targets downwards. Qualcomm plans to maintain these operations and will continue selling the chips through Arduino.

“My success criteria is that the Arduino ecosystem doesn’t even feel that there is any change in ownership here,” Duggal added.

Qualcomm has previously acquired two other firms, Foundries.io and Edge Impulse, in a bid to meet the needs of robotic developers. The chipmaker hopes to power humanoid robots, which are very similar to autonomous vehicles in terms of the AI computing power requirements.