The new program provides developers, makers and service providers with software development kits (SDKs), hardware development kits (HDKs), and technical documentation, as well as technical and business support.

“With the launch of MediaTek Labs we're opening up a new world of possibilities for everyone — from hobbyists and students through to professional developers and designers — to unleash their creativity and innovation,” says Marc Naddell, Vice President of MediaTek Labs. “We believe that the innovation enabled by MediaTek Labs will drive the next wave of consumer gadgets and apps that will connect billions of things and people around the world.”

The Labs developer program also features the LinkIt Development Platform, which is based on the MediaTek Aster (MT2502) chipset. The LinkIt development Platform is the one of the best connected platforms, offering excellent integration for the package size and doing away with the need for additional connectivity hardware.

LinkIt makes creating prototype wearable and IoT devices easy and cost effective by leveraging MediaTek's proven reference design development model. The LinkIt platform consists of System-on-Chip (SoC), LinkIt OS, Hardware Development Kit (HDK), and Software Development Kit (SDK).

To ensure developers can make the most of the LinkIt offering, the MediaTek Labs website includes a range of additional services, including comprehensive business and technology overviews, a Solutions Catalog where developers can share information on their devices, applications, and services and become accessible for matchmaking to MediaTek's customers and partners, and support services, as well as comprehensive FAQ, discussion forums that are monitored by MediaTek technical experts, and — for developers with solutions under development in the Solutions Catalog — free technical support.

“While makers still use their traditional industrial components for new connected IoT devices, with the LinkIt ONE hardware kit as part of MediaTek LinkIt Developer Platform, we're excited to help Makers bring prototypes to market faster and more easily,” says Eric Pan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seeed Studio.

Seperately, MediaTek has invested about US$80 million (NT$2.4 billion) to take a stake in China's largest e-commerce services provider Alibaba Group. through the Chinese firm's initial public offering (IPO) on Wall Street this week.