Qualcomm Ventures moves into Europe with $135 million fund

Qualcomm Ventures will make $135 million available to innovative European companies working on W-CDMA advances.
The San Diego-based chip vendor said its move into Europe is to foster development among small- and medium-sized companies focusing on applications, platform software, handset components and network infrastructure. Qualcomm is offering money and guidance, particularly in “protecting their innovations” and standardizing their technology, the firm said. Qualcomm is famous-some might say notorious-for a vigorous defense of its intellectual property.
The first company to cash in on Qualcomm’s plans is Paris-based Streamezzo, which announced Qualcomm Ventures participated in the company’s most recent round of funding. Steamezzo did not disclose how much it raised in the funding round.
Qualcomm’s venture capital arm was established six years ago with $500 million to invest and has been active in Japan, Korea and China.