'Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators' Launched to Foster On-Device AI Innovation in the Asia-Pacific Region

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Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of the Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI) 2025 - APAC, a new initiative aimed at supporting professional developers and startups from Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to create cutting-edge on-device AI solutions across diverse sectors. Through QAIPI, Qualcomm Technologies is providing exclusive access to resources, mentorship, and training sessions to help participants develop innovative AI-driven applications that span across industries in mobile, Compute and IoT.

QAIPI is designed to encourage developers and startups to build complete end-to-end AI solutions using advanced Qualcomm® technologies and the Qualcomm® AI Hub ecosystem. Participants can utilize the Qualcomm AI Hub to compile trained models for optimized on-device deployment, analyze performance metrics on real devices, and deploy the optimized AI models into their applications. The platform supports multiple domains, enabling seamless AI integration across diverse verticals, from personalized mobile experiences to real-time IoT solutions and intelligent compute.

The Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI) empowers professional developers and startups to develop innovative AI-driven applications.

Applications for QAIPI 2025 are open until April 15, 2025 (11:59 p.m. PST). The program includes two phases: the first phase, open to professional developers and startups in Japan, Singapore and South Korea, focuses on edge-AI model development and optimization on Qualcomm AI Hub, and the second phase (May to October 2025), open to shortlisted startups based in Japan, Singapore and South Korea, will facilitate end-to-end use case development, on Qualcomm provided hardware platforms.

Participants will benefit from a set of incentives. For professional developers, QAIPI offers online training sessions and recognition through personalized digital badges. Startups selected for Phase-2 will receive additional support, including six months of dedicated mentorship, access to Qualcomm Technologies’ hardware or development kits for product development, a participation stipend valued at up to US$5,000, and eligibility to receive a patent filing incentive of up to US$5,000. Shortlisted startups will have the chance to showcase their innovations at a high-profile virtual Demo Day in Q4 2025 to an audience of industry leaders, investors, and potential collaborators.

Startups registered in Japan, Singapore and South Korea will receive six-months’ mentorship and access to tools for project development.

“AI is reshaping industries globally, and we are excited to empower innovators in the Asia-Pacific region to lead this evolution,” said O.H. Kwon, Senior Vice President & President, Qualcomm APAC. “We are committed to driving energy-efficient, privacy-focused, and scalable AI innovations that advance industries and transform lives worldwide. With QAIPI, we are enabling professional developers and startups to create solutions that redefine user experiences and set new benchmarks for efficiency and scalability. This program reflect our commitment to fostering innovation and building a stronger ecosystem for AI-driven technologies.”

“Qualcomm is fostering a robust innovation ecosystem that infuses billions of devices with connected intelligence,” said Sudeepto Roy, Vice President of Engineering for Qualcomm Incorporated and Lead of Qualcomm’s Global Ecosystem Development Program. “A profound revolution is underway at the cyber-physical edge, where AI meets the diverse needs of humans, machines, and businesses. Through QAIPI, we will equip innovators with comprehensive technical and IP training, mentorship, and cutting-edge platforms, enabling them to excel in this dynamic space. By developing end-to-end AI use cases on devices, we aim to address societal, governmental, and industry needs in a sustainable and scalable manner.”