When Nokia Meets Tampere University: A New Era for Custom SoCs
On a crisp Tuesday, Nokia rolled out the big news: it’s teaming up with Tampere University to launch a Center of Excellence that will fast‑track the creation of System‑on‑Chip (SoC) processors for its ReefShark lineup. Picture a high‑tech matchmaking service where silicon meets academia.
Why the Punchline?
SoCs are the brains behind every 5G device—from simple household gadgets to complex network towers. By co‑creating a dedicated research hub, Nokia and the university aim to:
- Speed up the design and manufacturing of proprietary SoCs
- Cut the time‑to‑market for new chips
- Build a long‑term competence in SoC development
- Lay groundwork for future tech leadership
The Plan in a Nutshell
Everyone’s excited to launch the Center in November. Each year, the joint venture will aim for a consistent chip cadence while working closely with ecosystem partners. Nokia will also step in to handle module and physical implementation, ensuring the chips are not just cool on paper but great in practice.
More Than Just Chips
Beyond raw hardware, the partnership will dive into emerging fields such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and security‑focused hardware. There’s even talk of open‑source hardware SoCs—think of it as the open‑source version of a secret weapon for 5G.
Finland’s Helping Hand
Business Finland backs the venture through Nokia’s Veturi initiative, which bolsters industrial 5G and ecosystem collaboration with top universities. Nokia’s history with Tampere University dates back to the 2000s with the Nokia Innovation Center, so this feels like a grand reunion.
Voices from the Front
Jyrki Vuorinen, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Nokia to build custom silicon solutions for 5G infrastructure. This project accelerates silicon innovation and ultimately helps operators unlock the full potential of 5G.” He added that they’re already hiring a professor of practice and searching for two international professorships.
Ari Kynaslahti, Nokia’s Head of Product Management, commented, “This collaboration underscores our commitment to the ReefShark portfolio and guarantees that our 5G offerings deliver top‑class performance.” He looks forward to a close, collaborative working relationship with the university.
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