Optiemus to Lead Full-Stack R&D for CMF Smartphones in India

Optiemus Group is set to play a central role in building full-stack smartphone research and development capabilities for CMF in India. The expanded partnership with Nothing moves beyond manufacturing into ownership and end-to-end engineering, with the aim of creating a majority Indian-owned smartphone brand that designs and develops products locally for global markets.

From Manufacturing JV to Deeper Collaboration

Nothing and Optiemus first announced a strategic manufacturing joint venture in September 2025. That arrangement established India as a production base for both Nothing and CMF devices. The latest development significantly deepens the relationship. Manufacturing, ownership and research and development will now come under a single Indian entity centred on CMF.

Optiemus is joining CMF’s upcoming Series A investment round. Under the proposed structure, the Indian company is expected to hold a majority stake—reported at 51.1 per cent—in the joint venture focused on commercialising and selling CMF smartphones and related components. Nothing will remain a shareholder and technology partner but will step back from day-to-day management of the Indian entity.

Ambition for Full-Stack Capabilities

The companies have described the partnership as an effort to build what they call India’s first smartphone brand with full-stack, end-to-end R&D capabilities. This goes well beyond final assembly. The planned scope includes industrial design, mechanical engineering, camera engineering, software development, connectivity solutions and component-level engineering.

By locating these activities in India, CMF and Optiemus aim to generate local intellectual property and move the country further up the smartphone value chain. The stated goal is to shift from a primarily manufacturing role toward technology development and eventual global exports of products designed and engineered in India.

Leadership Perspectives

Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, highlighted India’s combination of engineering talent, large domestic market, strengthening manufacturing base and supportive policy environment. He noted that Nothing had already demonstrated the ability to build independent design, software and engineering capabilities and turn them into a global brand. The intention now is to apply a similar blueprint in India through CMF, in partnership with Optiemus.

Ashok Gupta, Executive Chairman of Optiemus, pointed to Nothing’s track record of creating its own design and engineering strengths from the ground up. He said CMF is well placed to bring that approach to India, supported by Optiemus’s manufacturing expertise and a policy climate that increasingly encourages large-scale R&D and innovation.

Strategic Context for India

India has rapidly expanded its smartphone manufacturing capacity in recent years and now assembles the vast majority of devices sold in the domestic market. However, much of the higher-value design, software and component engineering work has continued to take place outside the country. The CMF–Optiemus initiative seeks to address that gap by anchoring a broader set of capabilities on Indian soil.

For Optiemus, the move represents an evolution from electronics manufacturing services toward deeper involvement in product development and brand ownership. For Nothing and CMF, it offers a route to scale in one of the world’s largest smartphone markets while building a distinct Indian identity and engineering base for the CMF brand.

What Full-Stack R&D Entails

Full-stack smartphone development covers the entire product creation process. It begins with industrial and mechanical design, extends through hardware engineering and camera systems, and includes the software layer that defines the user experience. Component engineering and connectivity solutions complete the picture. Few Indian-origin smartphone efforts have so far controlled this entire stack end-to-end.

If successfully executed, the partnership could create a rare example of a brand that is majority Indian-owned, manufactures locally, and also designs and engineers its products in India for both domestic and international customers.

Implementation Path

The expanded collaboration remains subject to definitive agreements, regulatory approvals and fulfilment of conditions precedent. Once those steps are completed, the joint entity is expected to invest in engineering talent, design infrastructure and development processes. CMF’s existing product roadmap and Nothing’s design philosophy will provide the starting foundation, while Optiemus contributes manufacturing scale and operational expertise.

Over time, the partners intend for an increasing share of intellectual property and engineering decision-making to reside in the Indian organisation. Success will depend on the ability to attract and retain specialised talent, integrate design and manufacturing workflows, and deliver products that compete on both features and cost in global markets.

Broader Industry Implications

The announcement arrives at a moment when policymakers and industry participants are focused on increasing domestic value addition in electronics. Initiatives that combine ownership, manufacturing and genuine R&D are viewed as more transformative than pure assembly operations. The CMF–Optiemus partnership is being positioned as one such effort.

Whether it becomes a template for other brands will depend on execution. Building full-stack capabilities is capital-intensive and time-consuming. It requires sustained investment and the freedom to iterate on product design. The involvement of a proven manufacturing partner and a design-oriented global brand provides a stronger starting point than many previous attempts.

Looking Ahead

The coming months will clarify the precise ownership structure, investment commitments and product development timelines. For now, the direction is clear: Optiemus and CMF intend to place manufacturing, ownership and comprehensive smartphone R&D under one Indian roof. If the partnership delivers on its stated ambition, it could mark a meaningful step in India’s journey from smartphone assembler to a location where complete products are conceived, engineered and built for the world.

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