Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, has signed its first collaboration agreement with the University of Cambridge. Two projects are involved, both with Professor Daping Chu of the Department's Photonics & Sensors Group, and the second one jointly with Professor Neil Dodgson of the University's Computer Lab. The total funding is over £1m and has been made available through the Huawei Innovation Research Program, which has been operating in the EU since 2010.
Huawei has been looking for opportunities to invest in fundamental research and collaborate with Cambridge University in recent years. The company has a particular interest in the CAPE (Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics) activities and is keen to develop partnerships with the world's key players in the electronics and photonics industry.
The research projects are media related in the area of participant-based intelligent information exchange and interaction for a user-centric immersive experience. At the heart of these projects is the interdisciplinary research ranging from functional materials, novel devices and system design to new algorithms for unprecedented user experience. The research work will be carried out in the Electrical Engineering Division, where CAPE is based, and in the Computer Lab next door.
Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Head of the Department of Engineering, said: "This is an exciting starting point. The economy in China continues to grow, and this trend can only be sustained with new innovations and new technologies. Cambridge has a lot to offer on this front. We are looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with Huawei and developing a successful collaboration in the long term."
Professor Daping Chu, Chairman of CAPE, said: "We are thrilled to be the first at the University of Cambridge to collaborate with Huawei. Their focus on fundamental research for innovation is exactly what we are doing in CAPE with our industrial partners. We expect to work with Huawei engineers closely. This will, in turn, provide an excellent opportunity to postgraduate students and post-doc researchers for first-hand experience in the development and implementation of new technologies."
Huawei has over 62,000 product and solution research and development employees, comprising more than 44% of the company's total employees worldwide. It has set up 23 research centres in a number of countries including Germany, Sweden, the UK, France, Italy, Russia, India and China. In addition, Huawei has established 34 joint innovation centers with top carriers to transform leading technologies into competitive advantages and business success for its customers.
