San Francisco, Mar 11 (IANS): Apple has announced to invest nearly $1.2 billion in Munich, Germany to create 5G and future wireless technologies through the seamless integration of hardware and software engineering.

Apple will make Munich its European Silicon Design Center, adding hundreds of new employees and a new state-of-the-art facility focused on connectivity and wireless technologies.

Munich is already Apple's largest engineering hub in Europe, with close to 1,500 engineers from 40 countries working in a variety of areas including power management design, application processors, and wireless technologies.

"I couldn't be more excited for everything our Munich engineering teams will discover — from exploring the new frontiers of 5G technology, to a new generation of technologies that bring power, speed, and connectivity to the world," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The teams have created custom silicon, delivering greater performance and better efficiency for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac with the M1 chip.

Over the past decade, Apple's innovation in energy efficiency has reduced average product energy use by over 70 per cent.

The new facility will be home to Apple's growing cellular unit, and Europe's largest R&D site for mobile wireless semiconductors and software.

In the past five years, Apple said it has spent over 15 billion euros with more than 700 companies of all sizes across Germany.

This includes the chip manufacturer Infineon, battery company Varta, and the family-owned chemical company DELO, which is delivering resin for Face ID technology in Apple's newest products, including iPhone 12 Pro.