GigaDevice, a semiconductor company specializing in Flash memory, 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), sensors, and analog products, has entered a strategic partnership with Qt Group, a global leader in software design and development solutions. The collaboration leverages GigaDevice’s GD32H7 high-performance MCU series to optimize embedded GUI solutions, enabling developers to create intuitive and responsive user experiences. This partnership expands GigaDevice’s ecosystem strategy in advanced human-machine interface (HMI) and targets sectors such as smart industry, energy storage, smart home devices, and consumer electronics.

The GD32H7 series MCUs offer high-performance processing, advanced graphic support, and industrial-grade reliability, making them suitable for next-generation HMI applications. Qt Group’s Qt for MCUs framework provides an efficient cross-platform development environment, high-performance graphical rendering, and a comprehensive UI component library. The partnership addresses the growing demand for visually rich and responsive HMIs in IoT, industrial automation, and smart devices.

Collaboration Focus Areas

The companies will collaborate in three primary areas to enhance the embedded GUI ecosystem:

• Joint Optimization: Optimize and validate Qt for MCUs on the GD32H7 platform to maximize system performance and development efficiency.
• Reference Designs: Develop reference designs, software frameworks, and best-practice guidelines for targeted application segments to accelerate product development and reduce time-to-market.
• Ecosystem Expansion: Expand the developer ecosystem through technical training, community engagement, joint marketing initiatives, and customer enablement programs.

Strategic Impact

Vincent Li, GigaDevice Senior Vice President and General Manager of the MCU Business Unit, emphasized that building a comprehensive MCU ecosystem is central to the company’s strategy. He stated that Qt Group’s technical expertise and developer footprint align with GigaDevice’s goal of serving premium customers and raising the competitive bar for its products. The partnership aims to combine the hardware strengths of the GD32H7 series with Qt for MCUs’ software capabilities to provide development teams with an integrated platform.

Michele Rossi, Director of Qt for MCUs Product Management at Qt Group, highlighted that embedded developers often face bottlenecks in getting graphics stacks running on new hardware. He noted that Qt for MCUs has a proven track record in automotive, industrial, and consumer applications, and this partnership extends that capability to the GD32H7 platform. The collaboration is expected to deliver a more integrated development experience and a comprehensive solution portfolio for customers worldwide.

GigaDevice has expanded its optical communication portfolio with the launch of the GD32E512 and GD32E252 series microcontrollers (MCUs), specifically designed for optical module applications. The new products address the diverse requirements of both high-speed and low-speed optical modules, supporting the advancement of AI computing power and high-speed interconnect technologies. The company aims to provide highly integrated and application-optimized solutions for telecom, data centers, and access networks.

GigaDevice has been a key supplier of MCUs for the optical module industry since 2018. The company achieved million-unit shipments within the same year of its first dedicated MCU launch and reached the ten-million-unit mark in 2022. The new GD32E512 and GD32E252 series leverage this expertise to offer fully self-developed, mass-production-ready solutions with high reliability and flexible customization capabilities.

GD32E512 Series Specifications

The GD32E512 series is designed for high-speed optical module applications. It features a high-performance Arm Cortex-M33 core operating at up to 120 MHz and introduces integrated I3C support for high-bandwidth, low-latency communication. The series is available in an ultra-compact 3 × 3 mm package to optimize PCB space.

GD32E252 Series Specifications

The GD32E252 series is optimized for low-speed optical module applications, including access networks and industrial optical communications. Built around the Arm Cortex-M23 core, the series delivers enhanced analog performance with low power consumption and reliable operation. It features compact package options, wide-temperature operation, and strong EMC performance to simplify system design.

GigaDevice continues to focus on high-speed pluggable optics, silicon photonics, and co-packaged optics (CPO) to support the transition to next-generation high-speed networks. The company remains committed to investing in optical communication technologies to enable the growth of AI computing, cloud services, and high-speed networking infrastructure.