October 9, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Qualcomm Technologies has announced the acquisition of Arduino, the widely adopted open-source hardware and software platform, aiming to strengthen its footprint in edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Arduino is known for simplifying embedded development and rapid prototyping across a global community of over 33 million active users.

The acquisition represents a convergence of high-performance processing with accessible open-source prototyping. By combining Qualcomm’s expertise in processors, graphics, computer vision, and AI technologies with Arduino’s global user base, the company intends to accelerate the adoption of edge AI in smart home, industrial IoT, and automation markets.

Arduino will continue to operate independently, maintaining its open-source ethos while leveraging Qualcomm’s technology stack, cloud infrastructure, and worldwide partner network. This integration aims to reduce development barriers and shorten the cycle from prototype design to commercial deployment, enabling students, startups, and industrial developers to access advanced computing and AI tools within familiar Arduino frameworks.

To demonstrate the collaboration, Arduino launched the Arduino UNO Q development board, featuring the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor. The UNO Q utilizes a “dual-brain” architecture, combining a Linux Debian-capable high-performance microprocessor with a real-time microcontroller, merging high-speed computation with real-time control—what Arduino describes as “blink-of-an-eye AI.”

For embedded and IoT communities in Europe and worldwide, Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino signifies not only a corporate integration but also underscores the growing role of open-source platforms in driving future edge AI innovation.