C-DOT and Qualcomm sign MoU to build innovative telecom solutions in India

C-DOT, a public-funded research institution focused on telecom technology by the Government of India, reached the understanding with Qualcomm Technologies at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress 2024 Barcelona in Spain.

Qualcomm Technologies will support C-DOT  with expertise and best practices, state-of-the-art technology, intellectual property training and tools, for enabling Indian startups, academia, and OEMs, and fast-tracking the development and commercialization of indigenous telecom products utilizing Qualcomm wireless solutions and technologies.

Through this collaboration, C-DOT and Qualcomm Technologies will work towards the following broad objectives:

▪ Facilitate access for the  startups, OEMs and academia with foundational chip technologies and domain experts that will stimulate innovation and help them scale up their R&D efforts

▪ Accelerate the pace of commercialization and business development of Indian startups engaged in building indigenous telecom products and solutions

Speaking on the initiative, Dr Neeraj Mittal, Digital Communications Commission and Secretary Chairman said, “India's developers, academia and startup ecosystem is at the forefront of driving innovation in the country. With immense pride in our nation's cutting-edge research, we stand alongside Qualcomm in nurturing the entrepreneurial vigor in telecom technology.

"This initiative is in reaffirmation of Prime Minister’s commitment to the government’s design in India and Make in India vision, recognizing the potential of homegrown startups to drive groundbreaking innovations and propel India’s leadership in the telecom landscape.”

Addressing the collaboration, Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, said “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies will help transition us to an era where innovation thrives, unlocking the vast potential of Indian R&D, accelerating the commercialization of new products and use cases and fostering a vibrant ecosystem of startups. I’m very excited about this partnership that pools our resources and paves the way for indigenous telecom solutions for self-consumption and for the world  as guided by our Hon MOC “

Speaking on Qualcomm’s commitment to India, Savi Soin, Senior Vice President, and President of Qualcomm India, said “India has a thriving developer and startup ecosystem driven by enormous technology talent. The recent initiatives by the government have been key in making India a growth-concentive market for tech companies of various scales.

"With the government’s push for Design in India coupled with growing adoption of 5G and on-device-AI, we see greater scope for innovations. Qualcomm takes pride in being India’s trusted partner for accelerating its digital journey. We look forward to the close strategic collaboration between Qualcomm Technologies and C-DOT to help write India’s growth story in the years to come.”

Gautam Sheoran, Vice President, and General Manager, Wireless and Broadband Communications, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said, “We are excited to partner with C-DOT in our shared commitment to fostering innovation.

"Over the years, our technologies have been at the forefront of enabling growth for the start-up ecosystem and will continue to support developers, start-ups, and young entrepreneurs across India in close collaboration with C-DOT. Our R&D investment in India and our startup incubation programs are a testament to the potential we foresee in the country.”