Qualcomm Advances AI Innovation, Selects 15 Startups for APAC Program

Qualcomm Technologies is driving forward artificial intelligence innovation across the Asia-Pacific region by selecting 15 promising startups for its 2026 AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI) – APAC. These startups, hailing from Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, were chosen for their potential to develop groundbreaking on-device AI solutions across a diverse range of industries. The initiative, first announced in June 2026, is designed to empower these emerging companies to create and commercialize AI applications that operate directly on devices, offering benefits such as enhanced privacy, reduced latency, and improved power efficiency compared to cloud-based solutions. The QAIPI 2026 program provides a robust support ecosystem for the selected ventures. This includes invaluable one-on-one mentorship from Qualcomm's subject matter experts, access to cutting-edge hardware development platforms like Qualcomm Snapdragon® and Dragonwing™ products, and the new Arduino® UNO™ Q development board. Furthermore, participants receive financial grants of up to US$10,000 upon successful completion of the program, along with eligibility for patent filing incentives of up to US$5,000. These resources are aimed at significantly accelerating the development and deployment of novel AI applications that are expected to impact consumer devices by enhancing personalized user interfaces, improving data processing efficiency, bolstering security features, and enabling new immersive interactive experiences. A Demo Day is planned for later in 2026, where the startups will showcase their innovations to industry leaders and investors, further supporting their path to market.