The Bosch Group is expanding its presence in Pittsburgh, having moved its Research Technology Center (RTC) from the North Side to join Akustica’s headquarters in SouthSide Works; both companies are hiring.
Pittsburgh-based Akustica, a CMU spinout and developer of one of the first chips on the market with a clear, high-definition voice signal, was acquired by The Bosch Group of Germany in 2009. More than a logistical move, the expansion highlights a long standing investment in Pittsburgh by the billion dollar consumer electronics company, says Davin Yuknis, vice president of sales and marketing at Akustica.
Both companies will be working side-by-side on two floors of the expanded 21,000 square-foot space. Both also will increase staffs by 25 percent this year. Akustica currently employs 40 and Bosch 10. New hires will be in the areas of systems and product engineering as well as administrative.
“Within Bosch, this (Pittsburgh) is viewed as the center of excellence for CMOS MEMS design,” says Yuknis. “We have all the experts here.”
Last week Akustica announced the launch of the first single-chip digital (MEMS) microphone–the AKU230–for high quality voice applications in laptops, tablets and netbook PCs. The chip is being produced in the Bosch foundry in Reutlingen, Germany.
“What’s unique about our solution is it’s all on one chip,” explains Marcie Weinstein of Akustica.
Bosch has several connections to the region. The company initially formed a partnership with CMU in 1990 through the Carnegie Bosch Institute of Applied Studies in International Management, part of the Tepper School of Business; Bosch has also invested in several Pittsburgh companies including Aethon.
Source: Davin Yuknis, Marcie Weinstein, Akustica
Writer: Deb Smit
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