US chipmaker Qualcomm will open a new technology lab in Taipei later this month aimed at accelerating its move into the Internet of Things (IoT) space, particularly connected cars, and further reducing its dependence on the smartphone market.

The facility, called Qualcomm Technology Lab, is a joint investment with the Taiwan government and will also serve as an incubator, the Taipei Times reported. The company did not provide a specific investment amount.

Qualcomm executive chairman Paul Jacobs, who was in Taipei to sign an MoU with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said Qualcomm will help start-ups, because IoT firms are often small and don’t have the ability to operate around the world. “We can help them bridge that gap,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Jacobs said IoT represents a large business opportunity for chip companies, given that there will be billions, or even trillions, of connected devices worldwide, the Times reported. “Besides, new partnerships among chipmakers will spring up too, driven by IoT, particularly in the automotive space.”

Last month Qualcomm announced plans to acquire NXP Semiconductors for $47 billion, a move it said “accelerates our strategy to extend our leading mobile technology into robust new opportunities”.

The San Diego-based firm is facing an ongoing antitrust probe in Taiwan over its chip licensing practices. The Fair Trade Commission opened an investigation in February of last year, following actions taken by governments in South Korea and the EU.