Qualcomm has unveiled that it is planning to establish three technology and testing centers in Taiwan which will help in the commercial development of 5G and advanced technologies. The research and design centers will be established in Hsinchu in the north of the country and will be operational in 2019.
The new facilities will cover 5G module research and design, mmWave testing and biometric sensing. The Centre for Operations, Manufacturing Engineering and Testing (COMET) will serve as Qualcomm's operations hub in Asia Pacific.
This project is part of its plan to boost investment in Taiwan following a settlement agreement with the country's antitrust regulator for TWD2.73 billion ($88.8 million) last August. In conformity with the agreement, the chipmaker agreed to invest in commercial initiatives covering the mobile and semiconductor sectors over the next five years.
Roawen Chen, SVP of manufacturing technology and operations at Qualcomm, explained that the 5G module research and design center will enable small- and medium-size enterprises to enter the 5G market without the need for huge investments, thanks to the solutions that will be developed in the center.