Driving Edge AI Innovation
Building on Qualcomm’s commitment to edge AI innovation, the second iteration of QAIPI-APAC invites startups to leverage Qualcomm Dragonwing™ and Snapdragon® platforms, as well as the new Arduino® UNO Q development board. The goal is to develop intelligent solutions across a wide range of edge AI applications, strengthening their path to global commercialization. The program focuses on supporting startups that build end-to-end AI use cases in areas such as consumer devices, healthcare, smart industries, smart cities, education, and industrial IoT, with an emphasis on scaling, deployment, and commercialization readiness.
Participants will gain access to Qualcomm’s extensive global ecosystem, communication technologies, technical guidance, and mentorship, facilitating an efficient transition from concept to deployable product.
Program Structure and Support
Applications for QAIPI 2026 – APAC are open until April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM PST). Submissions will be evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, potential societal impact, and commercial relevance. The program is structured in two phases:
- Application Phase: Open to eligible startups established and registered in Japan, Singapore, or South Korea.
- Mentorship Phase: Shortlisted startups will enter this phase, receiving personalized guidance, online training, technical support, and access to Qualcomm-powered hardware platforms and development kits for product development. These finalists may also be eligible for grants of up to $10,000 and patent filing incentives of up to $5,000. After the program concludes, finalists will be invited to showcase their innovations at a flagship Demo Day in late 2026, where they can interact with industry leaders, investors, and potential collaborators across the APAC innovation ecosystem.
Global Market Connection and Resources
In addition to technical and product development support, Qualcomm continues to help QAIPI-APAC startups connect with global markets and international innovation ecosystems. In 2025, QAIPI-APAC finalists participated in key industry events such as the 2025 Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) and a flagship Demo Day in Seoul, providing opportunities to engage with global customers, partners, and investors. Building on this momentum, selected finalists are also invited to the 2026 Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE) in Taiwan this March, further accelerating their strategies for real-world validation, cross-market collaboration, and global commercialization.
Following its acquisition of Arduino, a leading provider of open-source hardware and software, Qualcomm has expanded the tools and developer ecosystem available to innovators. The new Arduino UNO Q open-source development board, powered by Qualcomm Dragonwing, supports Linux applications, real-time control, and lightweight AI inference, enabling startups to accelerate edge intelligent applications. To further accelerate the development of edge AI solutions across diverse use cases, startup teams can leverage the Qualcomm AI Hub, a developer platform that expands the catalog of pre-optimized AI models. They can also utilize:
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Edge Impulse: A leading platform for building and deploying tinyML and edge AI models from real-world sensor data.
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Curated GitHub® repositories with optimized models and end-to-end demos.
These resources are designed to reduce time and effort, accelerating development, deployment, and iteration cycles.
O.H. Kwon, Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm APAC Region, stated, “The rapid shift to edge AI is creating new opportunities for innovation, productivity, and economic growth across the Asia Pacific region. Through the Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators, we are helping startups transform their ideas into scalable solutions, leveraging hybrid AI and edge AI to develop intelligent products that achieve lower power consumption, improved efficiency, and enhanced privacy. By fostering a strong edge AI ecosystem, we aim to nurture the next generation of technology leaders and accelerate meaningful impact across industries and communities.”
Sudeepto Roy, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Incorporated and Head of Global Ecosystem Development Programs, added, “The inaugural year of QAIPI in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea saw AI leap into innovative optics, healthcare, retail, and humanoid robotics. We empower startups with advanced platforms and crucial intellectual property protection to help them transition these groundbreaking ideas into secure, patented, and deployable products. As we enter this new phase of edge AI, we anticipate this year’s participants will accelerate real-world deployments and strengthen the global innovation ecosystem.”
Application Details
Applications for the Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators 2026 – APAC are accepted until April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM PST) and will be evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, potential societal impact, and commercial relevance. For more details, including eligibility requirements and official rules, please visit the program website:
