1 Global Development Boards Market Scope
The global development boards market is projected to reach a total value of $4,935.17 million by 2025. This forecast indicates a steady growth trajectory over the past decade, with the market experiencing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.20% from 2025 to 2030.
Development boards, which are essentially printed circuit boards equipped with microprocessors, memory, and input/output features, have become essential tools for prototyping and embedded system development across various industries. These boards are widely used in consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace & defense, and the power industry, among others. The market’s growth is driven by the increasing demand for rapid prototyping and the expanding applications of embedded systems in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence.
Figure Global Development Boards Market Revenue and CAGR 2025-2030
2 Drivers and Limitations of Development Boards Market Growth
The growth of the global development boards market is influenced by several key factors. The primary drivers include the rapid expansion of the IoT ecosystem, which has increased the need for versatile and cost-effective development platforms. Development boards offer an ideal solution for IoT applications, providing a balance between performance, power efficiency, and ease of use. Additionally, the continuous innovation in semiconductor technology has led to the development of more powerful and compact boards, further expanding their applications. The adoption of these boards in educational institutions and DIY communities has also contributed to market growth, as they provide accessible tools for learning and experimentation.
However, the market faces certain constraints. One significant challenge is the potential disruption in the supply chain due to geopolitical and trade policy changes, which can limit the availability of components and increase costs. Additionally, the rapid pace of technological advancement means that manufacturers must continually invest in research and development to keep their products relevant. Failure to do so can result in obsolescence and loss of market share. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a notable impact on the industry, causing temporary slowdowns in production and demand, particularly in 2020. Despite these challenges, the long-term outlook for the development boards market remains positive, driven by the ongoing digital transformation across industries.
3 Development Boards Market Technological Innovations and Corporate Activities
The development boards market has witnessed significant technological advancements and industry consolidation over the past few years. Technological innovations have focused on improving the performance, power efficiency, and connectivity of these boards. For example, the integration of advanced microprocessors and the development of new types of boards, such as those based on ARM, SCM, and FPGA architectures, have expanded the range of applications and capabilities. Additionally, the increasing adoption of open-source platforms has facilitated collaboration and accelerated the development of new applications.
In terms of industry consolidation, several major players have engaged in strategic mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market positions. Notable examples include NXP’s acquisition of Freescale in 2015 and AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx in 2020. These deals have created larger, more diversified companies with enhanced capabilities to drive innovation and compete in the global market. Such consolidations are expected to continue as companies seek to leverage synergies and expand their product portfolios to meet the evolving needs of customers.
4 Global Development Boards Market Analysis by Type
The global development boards market is a dynamic and evolving sector, driven by technological advancements and increasing applications across various industries. Development boards serve as essential tools for prototyping and embedded system development, catering to a wide range of applications from consumer electronics to automotive and aerospace.
SCM (System on Chip Memory)
The SCM type is projected to lead the market by 2025, with sales reaching 25,122 K Units. This type is particularly popular due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility in various applications, including consumer electronics and automotive systems.
CPLD/FPGA (Complex Programmable Logic Device/Field Programmable Gate Array)
With a forecasted sales of 9,765 K Units, CPLD/FPGA boards are expected to hold a significant share of the market. These boards are favored for their reprogrammability and flexibility, making them suitable for rapid prototyping and complex designs.
DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
DSP boards, projected to sell 7,820 K Units, are crucial for applications requiring intensive digital signal processing, such as audio and video processing, telecommunications, and more.
ARM (Advanced RISC Machine)
ARM boards, expected to reach 7,994 K Units in sales, are widely used in embedded systems due to their low power consumption and high performance, making them ideal for mobile and IoT devices.
MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipe stages)
Projected to sell 3,393 K Units, MIPS boards are known for their simplicity and effectiveness in handling data-related problems in the pipeline using software solutions.
Table Global Development Boards Sales and Share by Type in 2025
|
Type |
Sales (K Units) |
Market Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
SCM |
25,122 |
43.30 |
|
CPLD/FPGA |
9,765 |
16.83 |
|
DSP |
7,820 |
13.48 |
|
ARM |
7,994 |
13.78 |
|
MIPS |
3,393 |
5.85 |
5 Global Development Boards Market Analysis by Application
The global development boards market is anticipated to experience significant growth across various applications by 2025, driven by technological advancements and increasing demand in sectors such as consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace & defense, power industry, and others.
Consumer Electronics
The consumer electronics sector is expected to dominate the market by 2025, with sales reaching 18,579 K Units. This sector includes applications in video surveillance, smartphones, and multimedia players, where development boards play a crucial role in innovation and product development.
Automotive
The automotive industry is projected to see substantial growth, with sales reaching 10,230 K Units. Development boards are integral in the development of advanced driver assistance systems, in-vehicle networking, body, chassis, powertrain, and safety applications.
Aerospace & Defense
This sector is anticipated to have sales of 7,536 K Units. Development boards are used in avionics, communications, missile processing, and command and control applications, reflecting the critical role of technology in these industries.
Power Industry
The power industry is expected to utilize 4,669 K Units of development boards. These boards are used in power management within the power industry, contributing to the efficiency and reliability of power systems.
Table Global Development Boards Sales and Share by Application in 2025
|
Application |
Sales (K Units) |
Market Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Consumer Electronics |
18,579 |
32.02 |
|
Automotive |
10,230 |
17.63 |
|
Aerospace & Defense |
7,536 |
12.99 |
|
Power Industry |
4,669 |
8.05 |
6 Global Development Boards Market Analysis by Region
The global development boards market is anticipated to exhibit significant growth across various regions by 2025, each contributing uniquely to the overall market expansion.
North America is projected to maintain a substantial market size, reaching approximately 15,552 K Units by 2025. With a market share of 26.80%, this region’s consistent growth can be attributed to its leading position in technological advancements and innovation. The demand for development boards in North America is driven by a thriving tech industry and a strong focus on research and development, making it a key player in the global market.
Europe is expected to see a notable increase, with sales projected to hit 16,607 K Units, capturing a market share of 28.62%. The stable growth in the European market reflects a consistent demand for development boards, supported by robust industrial and automotive sectors. Europe’s established tech industry and focus on automation technologies contribute to its significant market share.
Asia Pacific stands out as the largest regional market by value in 2025, with sales expected to reach 21,429 K Units, holding a significant market share of 36.93%. This region’s growth is largely attributed to rapid economic development, technological advancements, and an increasing demand for development boards across sectors like consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial automation. The presence of major manufacturers and the growing demand for smart devices and automation technologies are key drivers in this region.
Figure Global Development Boards Sales Market Share by Region in 2025
7 Analysis of the Top 3 Companies in Development Boards Market
7.1 NXP Semiconductors
Company Introduction and Business Overview
NXP Semiconductors, established in 2006, is a leading player in the global development boards market. With headquarters in Europe, NXP operates manufacturing bases across Europe, Asia, and North America. The company specializes in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, making significant contributions to the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. NXP’s business is primarily distributed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, catering to a wide range of clients in these regions.
Products Offered
NXP offers a comprehensive range of development boards designed to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Their product portfolio includes the Layerscape FRWY-LS1012A Board, an ultra-low-cost evaluation and development platform for LS1012A Series Communication Processors built on Arm® Cortex®-A53. This board is particularly suited for IoT, edge computing, and advanced embedded applications. It features easy access to processor I/O, low-power operation, micro SD card storage, an M2 connector, a compact form factor, and expansion board options via mikroBUS™ Click Module.
The mikroBUS™ Module enhances the board’s capabilities by offering easy expansion through hundreds of powerful modules supporting sensors, actuators, memories, and displays. This flexibility allows developers to customize their development platforms according to specific project requirements, making NXP’s offerings particularly attractive for innovative and versatile applications.
7.2 STMicroelectronics
Company Introduction and Business Overview
STMicroelectronics, founded in 1987, is a global semiconductor leader known for delivering intelligent and energy-efficient products and solutions. Headquartered in Europe, STMicroelectronics has a significant presence in both Europe and Asia. The company’s products power the electronics at the heart of everyday life, spanning across various sectors including automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, and communication infrastructure.
Products Offered
STMicroelectronics provides a wide array of development boards, including the STM3210C-SK/IAR, a complete solution for starting application development and evaluating the STMicroelectronics STM32F105/107 ARM core-based microcontrollers. This board includes all the necessary hardware and software to begin developing applications, such as the KickStart development board with the target microcontroller, the IAR J-Link in-circuit debugger/programmer (USB/JTAG), and IAR Embedded WorkBench for ARM (EWARM) integrated development environment.
The development kit features the IAR Embedded WorkBench® for ARM (EWARM) software package, which includes the KickStart™ C/C+++ compiler for output of code up to 32 Kbytes, VisualSTATE® code generator, C-SPY® high-level language debugger, editor, linker, and librarian tools. This comprehensive toolkit supports developers in creating efficient and reliable applications for embedded systems.
7.3 Xilinx
Company Introduction and Business Overview
Xilinx, established in 1984, is renowned for inventing the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), programmable SoCs, and now, the ACAP (Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform). Headquartered in the United States, Xilinx operates primarily in the U.S. and Asia. The company’s programmable silicon, enabled by advanced software and tools, drives rapid innovation across industries and technologies, from consumer to cars to the cloud.
Products Offered
Xilinx offers a variety of development boards, such as the Versal Prime Series VMK180 Evaluation Kit. This kit is designed to accelerate application development using the world’s first adaptive compute acceleration platform (ACAP). The board features the VM1802 Versal™ Prime series device, which combines a software programmable silicon infrastructure with world-class compute engines and connectivity to accelerate diverse workloads across multiple markets.
Key features of this board include broad applicability across multiple markets, data center storage acceleration, SmartNIC, Nx100G Networking, communications test equipment, and aerospace & defense applications. These capabilities make Xilinx’s development boards ideal for developers looking to create innovative solutions that require high levels of adaptability and intelligence.