Apple investing 1 billion euro for silicon design center in Munich, Germany

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone
Apple has announced that it will hire hundreds of employees for a billion-euro chip design facility in Munich, Germany focused on wireless technologies and networking.

A rendering of Apple's new design center, expected to open to employees in 2022
A rendering of Apple's new design center, expected to open to employees in 2022


In an announcement, Apple says that the new center will be Apple's largest R&D site for mobile wireless semiconductors and software. The 30,000 square-foot facility will focus on "5G and future technologies"

"I couldn't be more excited for everything our Munich engineering teams will discover -- from exploring the new frontiers of 5G technology, to a new generation of technologies that bring power, speed, and connectivity to the world," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "Munich has been a home to Apple for four decades, and we're grateful to this community and to Germany for being a part of our journey."

Apple says that the facility will be Europe's largest research and development site for wireless semiconductors and software.

Across Germany, Apple now has over 4,000 team members in a range of roles, including retail, engineering, and operations. This head-count spans its Apple Store locations, administrative positions, the Bavarian design center, the Nabern research center, and its application processor team that is already working in Munich.

Like all of the company's offices globally, it will run entirely on 100 percent renewable energy. Apple plans to start moving into the new building in late 2022.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    ionicleionicle Posts: 98member
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    lkruppwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 24
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,362member
    I would imagine Apple wants to leverage this location’s proximity to the leading technical university in Germany. Or the beer. Cold beer. Probably one of those.
    rcfaGeorgeBMacwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 24
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    Why?  The UK doesn't have any particular advantage in wireless or networking does it?
    GeorgeBMacomar moralesspheric
  • Reply 4 of 24
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    They probably wanted the largest pool of technical talent without having to deal with Brexit issues. 
    fotoformatGeorgeBMacomar moralessphericwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 24
    seanjseanj Posts: 318member
    crowley said:
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    Why?  The UK doesn't have any particular advantage in wireless or networking does it?
    A lot of Qualcom’s wireless technology comes from its acquisition of Cambridge Silicon Radio which is still based in Cambridge.

    The world’s most densely packed mobile radio network exist within Ocado’s robot-staffed warehouses. A proprietary technology licensed to other retailers around the world, such as Walmart in the USA. Developed by another Cambridge based technology company.

    Should I continue?

    BTW - guess which city ARM is based, it begins with a “C”...
    JWSCwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 24
    rcfarcfa Posts: 1,124member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    Certainly NOT. Not ever, and particularly not after Brexit.

    There’s already lots of chip design expertise in and around Munich, which makes hiring/poaching a lot easier, too.

    e.g. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infineon_Technologies

    And also: do we really need to mention Automotive know-how in southern Germany? AppleCar anyone?
    edited March 2021 fotoformatGeorgeBMacsphericwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 24
    mjtomlinmjtomlin Posts: 2,673member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK

    Not really... Germany is home to Infineon; the company that sold their wireless communications division to Intel. The same division that Apple acquired from Intel 2 years ago. So I'm guessing Apple already has a presence in the area and is expanding it.
    rotateleftbytemuthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 24
    rotateleftbyterotateleftbyte Posts: 1,630member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    It would have made no sense at all to open this centre in the UK. If anything, companies like Apple will be decreasing their presence here in the UK. We are seeing this happening in the automotive and aviation sectors already.

    GeorgeBMacspheric
  • Reply 9 of 24
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 7,667member
    Rayz2016 said:
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    They probably wanted the largest pool of technical talent without having to deal with Brexit issues. 
    Exactly. Free movement is key here. Along with a single currency and heaps of other advantages for foreign (but EU) workers. 

    I'm in the opposite camp now thanks to Brexit. This Friday I will pick up my new permanent residence card as an ex-Union member. Sad. 
  • Reply 10 of 24
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK

    Hardly
    It's being run by Russian backed hacks.
  • Reply 11 of 24
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    As the UK and the U.S. (and their minions) have embraced self centered self-contained nationalism, the EU is emerging as a center for global technological advances as it is willing and able to embrace all comers rather than trying to block major centers from participating.  

    The EU now makes more sense than any other single place in the world if you are seeking the best of future of technology.

    It's probably best that they cut the dead and decaying UK anchor free and can sail on ahead freely.  The future is there for those who embrace the future.
    spheric
  • Reply 12 of 24
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    mjtomlin said:
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK

    Not really... Germany is home to Infineon; the company that sold their wireless communications division to Intel. The same division that Apple acquired from Intel 2 years ago. So I'm guessing Apple already has a presence in the area and is expanding it.
    Ah, and there’s the answer. 
    spherictmaywatto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 24
    chadbagchadbag Posts: 2,000member
    I didn’t see it say where in Munich this is?  Did I miss it?    I worked for DEC in Munich back in the early 90s.  It was a fun experience.   


    watto_cobra
  • Reply 14 of 24
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member
    As the UK and the U.S. (and their minions) have embraced self centered self-contained nationalism, the EU is emerging as a center for global technological advances as it is willing and able to embrace all comers rather than trying to block major centers from participating.  

    The EU now makes more sense than any other single place in the world if you are seeking the best of future of technology.

    It's probably best that they cut the dead and decaying UK anchor free and can sail on ahead freely.  The future is there for those who embrace the future.
    The EU has been emerging as a center for global technological advances ... for decades.  And I’m sure it’ll happen any day now.  🧐

    Putting all that aside, this will be a great opportunity for a large company like Apple, who can use their financial power and soft influence to wrangle some of the best and brightest talent in Central Europe away from would-be competitors.  It’s a win-win for Apple and those looking for a bright employment future in Europe.
    tmaywatto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 24
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member
    dewme said:
    I would imagine Apple wants to leverage this location’s proximity to the leading technical university in Germany. Or the beer. Cold beer. Probably one of those.
    But ... but ...  What about warm beer in the UK?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 24
    jpolsterjpolster Posts: 16member
    It’s a bit like Silicon Valley used to be. Almost all major IT companies are big in Munich now, MS, Amazon, Google and Apple already having a big presence here. And the standard of living is great, though expensive. Close to the Alps and Italy, safe city, clean, pretty, good to raise kids, so what else do you want? OK and the beer is Great as well!
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 24
    seanjseanj Posts: 318member
    rotateleftbyte said:
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    It would have made no sense at all to open this centre in the UK. If anything, companies like Apple will be decreasing their presence here in the UK. We are seeing this happening in the automotive and aviation sectors already.

    Err no we aren’t, but those facts probably doesn’t suit your political narrative..
    GeorgeBMacwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 24
    seanjseanj Posts: 318member
    GeorgeBMac said:
    As the UK and the U.S. (and their minions) have embraced self centered self-contained nationalism, the EU is emerging as a center for global technological advances as it is willing and able to embrace all comers rather than trying to block major centers from participating.  

    The EU now makes more sense than any other single place in the world if you are seeking the best of future of technology.

    It's probably best that they cut the dead and decaying UK anchor free and can sail on ahead freely.  The future is there for those who embrace the future.
    Spot the socialist!!  :D
    After engineering the sovereign debt crisis that virtually bankrupted Southern European countries, after provoking the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and after bungling the ordering of vaccines for Corvid-19, the EU is just an ongoing omnishambles that’s doomed to disintegrate.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 24
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    seanj said:
    ionicle said:
    Would have made more sense to open this in the UK
    It would have made no sense at all to open this centre in the UK. If anything, companies like Apple will be decreasing their presence here in the UK. We are seeing this happening in the automotive and aviation sectors already.

    Err no we aren’t, but those facts probably doesn’t suit your political narrative..
    Yes, it’s all political. 


    watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 24
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member

    seanj said:
    GeorgeBMac said:
    As the UK and the U.S. (and their minions) have embraced self centered self-contained nationalism, the EU is emerging as a center for global technological advances as it is willing and able to embrace all comers rather than trying to block major centers from participating.  

    The EU now makes more sense than any other single place in the world if you are seeking the best of future of technology.

    It's probably best that they cut the dead and decaying UK anchor free and can sail on ahead freely.  The future is there for those who embrace the future.
    Spot the socialist!!  :D
    After engineering the sovereign debt crisis that virtually bankrupted Southern European countries, after provoking the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and after bungling the ordering of vaccines for Corvid-19, the EU is just an ongoing omnishambles that’s doomed to disintegrate.
    It’s an open race. 
    The Eu has been disintegrating since it began apparently. 
    And as Brexit really begins to bite, the UK will survive for as long as the right-wingers  can stave off an independence referendum. 
    sphericwatto_cobra
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