STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across a broad spectrum of electronics applications, and Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, have joined hands to deliver wireless IoT solutions.

ST and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced a new strategic collaboration to support next-generation industrial and consumer IoT solutions powered by edge AI.

The complementary collaboration will integrate leading AI-enabled wireless connectivity technologies, starting with Qualcomm Technologies’ Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo system-on-a-chip (SoC), with ST’s industry-leading microcontroller (MCU) ecosystem.

This collaboration will enable developers to seamlessly integrate connectivity software with STM32 general-purpose MCUs, including software toolkits, and will enable rapid and widespread adoption through ST’s worldwide sales and distribution channels.

“Wireless connectivity is critical to rapidly deploying edge AI across a growing range of use cases in enterprise, industrial, and personal applications,” said Remi El-Ouazzane, President of ST’s Microcontroller, Digital IC and RF Products Group. This is also why we have decided to form a strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. on wireless connectivity. Starting with the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo SoC, we are also considering the next step to complement ST’s existing multiprotocol Bluetooth LE (Bluetooth Low Energy), Zigbee, Thread, and sub-GHz product portfolio,” said Mr. Lee. “We expect that future wireless connectivity products based on Qualcomm Technologies technology will complement ST’s entire STM32 portfolio and bring significant value to the more than 100,000 STM32 customers worldwide.”

Rahul Patel, general manager, connectivity, broadband and networking business unit, Qualcomm Technologies, said: “Qualcomm Technologies’ R&D leadership has been instrumental in driving advancements in wireless IoT, from pioneering 4G/5G to high-performance Wi-Fi and micropower connectivity solutions. Working with ST, combining Qualcomm Technologies’ best-in-class connectivity products with ST’s leading STM32 microcontroller ecosystem will help accelerate significant functionality across the IoT. Together, we will build new developer experiences for IoT applications, supporting seamless integration and optimal performance for both developers and end users.”

ST will focus on the broader market and will introduce integrated modules leveraging Qualcomm Technologies’ Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo SoC portfolio, which can be integrated at system level with any STM32 general-purpose microcontroller. Wireless connectivity features will be optimized and available within ST’s development ecosystem, leveraging ST’s well-established software platform, to help accelerate development and time to market. Initial products resulting from this collaboration are expected to be available to OEMs in Q1 2025, with broader product launches to follow. The first phase of this collaboration is to develop a roadmap based on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo SoC products, with future expansion into cellular connectivity for industrial IoT applications.

“With the installed base of connected devices across consumer, commercial and industrial markets expected to well exceed 80 billion units by 2028, the proliferation of high-performance wireless connectivity solutions combined with a diverse portfolio of microcontroller families will be key to enabling the next generation of wireless IoT innovation,” said Andrew Zignani, senior research director at ABI Research. “This collaboration between ST and Qualcomm Technologies is a perfect fit, leveraging ST’s leading microcontroller ecosystem and Qualcomm Technologies’ R&D leadership in wireless connectivity. The availability of these combined solutions in the future will enable companies to respond more simply, quickly and cost-effectively to this dynamic IoT market.”