Apple is investing upward of 1 billion euros ($1.19 billion) in building a European Center for Chip Design in Munich, Germany. This will be used, in Apple’s (translated) words, for developing processes involving “5G and the wireless technologies of the future.”
Munich is already the location of Apple’s biggest development center in Europe. It is home to close to 1,500 engineers from 40 countries. The new initiative will see them joined by hundreds more employees.
“I couldn’t be more curious about what our engineering teams in Munich will discover – from exploring new possibilities in 5G technology to a new generation of technologies that will enable even more performance, speed and connectivity,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. “Munich has been a home for Apple for four decades. We are grateful to the city and Germany for what we have achieved together and look forward to the path that lies ahead.”
The future of Apple chip design
News of the new chip design center comes shortly after Apple began posting job ads for wireless system research engineers who could help Apple develop and prepare for 6G technology — even though this won’t be rolling out for about a decade. Those roles are based in Silicon Valley and San Diego. However, clearly Apple is keen to distribute its chip workforce around the world. This is to take advantage of as much international talent as it can.
Early last year, Apple was rumored to be the occupant at a new 1,500 person office in Munich, set to be completed in 2021. It’s not clear whether this relates to today’s news.
What do you think of Apple’s in-house chip efforts so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Apple
