Arduino Joins Qualcomm to Usher in a New Era of Accessible Edge AI

Qualcomm Technologies has announced its intent to acquire Arduino, the iconic open-source hardware and software company that helped millions of engineers, makers, and students turn ideas into reality. The move brings together Qualcomm’s powerful edge computing and AI technologies with Arduino’s global ecosystem of developers, educators, and innovators.

The deal promises to make advanced AI and edge computing tools more accessible, enabling faster prototyping, smarter connected devices, and an easier path from concept to commercialization. Elektor's Roberto Armani attended the “From Blink to Think” event and announcement in Turin, Italy, on Tuesday. In the coming days, we will provide more updates.

Empowering the Global Maker and Developer Ecosystem

The acquisition builds on Qualcomm’s recent integrations of Edge Impulse and Foundries.io, expanding its reach into the embedded and IoT development space. Arduino will maintain its independent brand and continue supporting a wide range of microcontrollers and processors from multiple semiconductor partners.

Together, the companies aim to bridge the gap between professional and hobbyist development by merging high-performance hardware, AI frameworks, and open-source accessibility. Over 33 million active Arduino users will gain access to Qualcomm’s global ecosystem and cutting-edge technologies.

“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.”

Introducing the Dual-Brain Arduino UNO Q

Marking this new phase, Arduino unveiled its first product powered by Qualcomm, the Arduino UNO Q, a dual-core “brain” board featuring the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor. The UNO Q combines a Linux Debian-capable processor for high-performance computing with a microcontroller for real-time control. This design enables developers to create “AI in a blink” applications—from smart home automation and robotics to edge vision and audio recognition.

The UNO Q also introduces Arduino App Lab, an IDE that unites Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows under one roof. Designed to simplify building, testing, and deploying intelligent systems, App Lab connects seamlessly with the Edge Impulse platform, helping users fine-tune AI models for real-world use cases.

“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 the Elektor community, this merger represents a powerful alignment between professional-grade edge AI and the grassroots innovation spirit that defines the maker movement.