Calit2 Gets New Name From Big Supporter—Qualcomm Institute

The local division of a multidisciplinary high technology research center known as Calit2 will be renamed next month in honor of Qualcomm's financial support, according to UC San Diego.

The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology at UC San Diego will be known as the "Qualcomm Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, the UC San Diego Division of Calit2," or Qualcomm Institute for short.

The San Diego maker of cell phone technology has provided $26 million to the institute over a dozen years.

"This recognition is much deserved given the important roles that Qualcomm and the Qualcomm Foundation have played in helping us to build and cement the institute's reputation as a world leader in technologies that benefit society," UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said. "The new name is a fitting tribute to Qualcomm as Calit2's largest industry supporter and one of the main employers of our alumni."

The combined center, with locations at UCSD and UC Irvine, will still be known as Calit2. It was one of several research institutes opened around the state in 2000 to keep California as a scientific and innovation leader.

The name change for the San Diego division will take effect on May 24, when a public open house is scheduled.

—City News Service