Synaptics Opens Wireless Research and Development Center in France

Rhea-AI Summary

Synaptics has established a new wireless research and development center in Sophia Antipolis, France, aimed at enhancing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology for the Internet of Things (IoT). This facility will bolster Synaptics' European presence and support their expansion into the high-growth IoT sector, which now represents their largest revenue stream. The CEO emphasized the strategic importance of this location, while the center is expected to accelerate innovation in wireless connectivity solutions. The acquisition of Broadcom’s Wireless IoT Business and DSP Group has previously strengthened their market position.

Positive

• Opening of a new R&D center in Sophia Antipolis enhances European presence.
• Focus on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology aligns with IoT market growth, the largest revenue category.
• Strategic acquisitions (Broadcom's Wireless IoT Business and DSP Group) expand technological capabilities.
• Strong local talent pool adds to Synaptics' engineering expertise.

Negative

• None.

The center expands Synaptics’ European presence and leverages a strong base of local analog and RF expertise to advance the state-of-the-art in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for the IoT.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synaptics^® Incorporated (Nasdaq: SYNA) today announced the opening of a wireless research and development center in the Sophia Antipolis technology park in southeast France. Focused on Wi-Fi^® and Bluetooth^® hardware and software development, the facility will serve as a hub for the design of Synaptics’ next-generation short-range wireless connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT).

“Our wireless connectivity technology is an essential differentiator for us as we continue to expand into high-growth IoT applications which now represent our largest revenue category,” said Synaptics’ CEO, Michael Hurlston. “The center adds to the investments Synaptics has already made in wireless, including the acquisition of Broadcom’s Wireless IoT Business in 2020 and the more recent acquisition of DSP Group, with its ULE and Bluetooth technology. Synaptics has already put together a team at the new center with a combined 130 years of experience and is looking to add talent as quickly as possible.”

The new development center expands Synaptics’ presence in Europe where it already has offices in Poland, Denmark, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

“Locating an engineering center here makes strategic sense on many levels,” said Venkat Kodavati, SVP and Chief Product Officer at Synaptics. “France offers an extremely supportive environment to help scale operations for fast-growing technology companies like Synaptics, and Sophia Antipolis is a well-known hotbed of innovation, particularly in the areas of analog and RF circuit design. The Synaptics France team will be a vital part of our global R&D efforts and we are very excited to become an integral part of the technology community here.”

“It is a pleasure to welcome Synaptics—an innovative, global technology developer—to tap the depth of talent and infrastructure benefits our region offers,” said Philippe Servetti, CEO of Invest in Côte d'Azur, a public body dedicated to helping companies to quickly get established in France. “The Côte d'Azur region is increasingly recognized as a center of excellence for semiconductor design, and Synaptics’ track record of success and highly respected engineering capabilities, particularly in the area of wireless and the IoT, will be a perfect fit for our ecosystem here.”

Synaptics offers a range of advanced wireless connectivity solutions for the IoT, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ULE, Zigbee, and GNSS technology. Its high-performance, low-power solutions help engineer exceptional experiences in the home, in the car, on the go, and at the office. It recently announced its innovative Triple Combo™ platform that combines three wireless interfaces—Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, and IEEE 802.15.4—with support for Thread, Zigbee, and Matter. The three radios come on a single chip to enable integration and interoperability across heterogenous devices and networks.

About Sophia Antipolis
Home to 2500 electronics, computing, telecommunication, and biotechnology companies employing more than 38,00 people, Sophia-Antipolis is a 2,400 hectare technology park located in southeast France. The park is supported by the Sophia-Antipolis Foundation whose mission is to encourage “technological and scientific innovation and research projects at the service of mankind and the environment.” Sophia Antipolis is named after Sophie Glikman-Tourmarkine, the wife of French Senator Pierre Laffitte, who founded the park.

About Synaptics Incorporated:
Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is changing the way humans engage with connected devices and data, engineering exceptional experiences throughout the home, at work, in the car, and on the go. Synaptics is the partner of choice for the world’s most innovative intelligent system providers who are integrating multiple experiential technologies into platforms that make our digital lives more productive, insightful, secure, and enjoyable. These customers combine Synaptics’ differentiated technologies in touch, display, and biometrics with a new generation of advanced connectivity and AI-enhanced video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing. Follow Synaptics on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, or visit www.synaptics.com.

Synaptics and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, please contact:

Patrick Mannion
Dir. of External PR and Technical Communications
Synaptics Inc.
+1 631-678-1015
patrick.mannion@synaptics.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2deeee7-be22-4db2-a234-d30ec8741979

FAQ

What is the significance of Synaptics' new R&D center in France?

The new R&D center in Sophia Antipolis will enhance Synaptics' European presence and focus on advancing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology for the IoT.

How does Synaptics plan to advance its IoT connectivity solutions?

Synaptics aims to leverage the new center to innovate and develop state-of-the-art wireless connectivity solutions, responding to the growing IoT market.

What role did acquisitions play in Synaptics' strategy?

Acquisitions like Broadcom’s Wireless IoT Business and DSP Group enhance Synaptics' technology base and support its growth in high-demand IoT applications.

What are Synaptics' current major revenue categories?

The Internet of Things (IoT) now represents Synaptics' largest revenue category, underscoring the importance of enhancing their wireless connectivity solutions.