Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. launches QAIPI 2026 in APAC

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. launched the Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program for Innovators (QAIPI) 2026 – APAC to support startups incorporated in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea in advancing the development and commercialization of edge AI solutions.

The company described the program as a regional incubation effort that supported end-to-end edge-AI use cases across consumer devices, healthcare, smart industry, smart cities, education, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) (IoT), with emphasis on scalability, deployment, and commercial readiness.

Qualcomm provided access to its Dragonwing and Snapdragon platforms and introduced the Arduino® UNO Q development board powered by Qualcomm Dragonwing; the board supported Linux applications, real-time control, and lightweight AI inferencing. The program also connected startups to the Qualcomm® AI Hub and referenced Edge Impulse, the Arduino Project Hub, and curated GitHub repositories as development resources.

Applications were open through April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Prometheus Scrape Target (PST)) and were to be evaluated on technical feasibility, potential societal impact, and commercial relevance. The initiative Radio Access Network (RAN) in two phases: an application phase for eligible startups incorporated and registered in Japan, Singapore, or South Korea, followed by a mentorship phase offering one-on-one guidance, online training, technical support, hardware access, a shortlist grant of up to US$10,000, and possible patent filing incentives up to US$5,000.

“The rapid shift toward edge AI is unlocking new opportunities for innovation, productivity, and economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region,” said O.H. Kwon, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm APAC.

The program included provisions for shortlisted startups to present at a Demo Day in late 2026 and invited shortlisted teams to participate in the 2026 Smart City Summit & Expo in March in Taiwan.