UK-based chip maker ARM Holdings is expanding its internet of things (IoT) engineering team at the Kfar Netter design centre in Israel.
The design centre was set up a year ago with 90 engineers from Sansa Security, acquired by ARM, which in turn is to be acquired by Japanese technology firm SoftBank Group (SBG) for 24bn.
Since it acquired IoT security firm Sansa Security, ARM has recruited about 40 engineers in Israel and continues to grow the design centre.
The company says the recruitment drive will make Kfar Netter one of ARM’s top 10 design centres by size, and will position it as a leading global IoT engineering research centre.
“The technologies we are developing in Israel will have a significant influence on advanced system-on-chip IP for IoT and mobile computing,” said Mike Muller, chief technology officer at ARM.
“By almost doubling the size of our Kfar Netter design centre in just over a year, we have shown our commitment to building our highly successful team in Israel.
“Their work in areas such as IoT security is helping to form a solid foundation for a smarter and better connected world where data as our most important new natural resource is secured by design .”
The Israeli research team comprises software developers specialising in technologies, languages and tools ranging from embedded real-time software development on devices and coding using C and other structured languages for linux and Android platforms, to cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) technologies.
The research team also focuses on the continued development of CryptoCell for implementing cryptography on cellular devices, tablets and IoT devices, and supports work on ARM security products such as ARM TrustZone technology and tamper-resistant SecurCore processors.
ARM’s strong capabilities in global semiconductor intellectual property and theIoT and ARM’s proven track record of innovation were among the key reasons cited by SBG for acquiring the chip maker.
Commenting on the acquisition, Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive of SBG, said ARM will be “an excellent strategic fit” as SBG invests to “capture the very significant opportunities provided by the internet of things”.
ARM, which was founded in 1990 and has 3,000 employees, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of SBG, but will keep its headquarters in Cambridge, its existing senior management structure, and partnership-based business model.