Investing in Canada
Canada and Ontario have a long heritage in telecommunications research leadership. Combined with world-class research institutions and a dynamic, skilled workforce, Huawei is making a long-term investment to expand our research & development efforts in Canada.
In partnership with the Province of Ontario, between now and 2020, Huawei will double the size of our Ontario-based Canada Research Centre operations. This investment includes the creation of 250 new research and engineering jobs focused in areas of 5G and other advanced communications research. In addition, Huawei has committed to invest a minimum of $500m in direct R&D spending.
We are proud that Huawei is now ranked 29th across all industry sectors for R&D investment in Canada, reinforcing our commitment to an innovative and competitive telecommunications industry and a thriving Canadian ICT Ecosystem.
Research & Development
In support of building Canada’s ICT Ecosystem, Huawei Canada is partnering with Universities across Canada to develop and explore new ideas and concepts in advanced communications technologies, including 5G. Huawei Canada has ongoing research initiatives with 10 Universities across Canada, and has recently announced strategic collaboration agreements with several Universities, including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. Approximately 10% of Huawei’s annual R&D investment in Canada goes directly to research partnerships with Canadian research institutions.
Canada Research Centre
The expansion of our research & development efforts in Ontario will allow Huawei to build on the innovative and leading-edge research in 5G technologies already being conducted at our Canada Research Centre in Ottawa, and include development of other advanced communications, including emerging cloud, device and network technologies and services. Huawei now operates research facilities in Ottawa, Toronto and Waterloo, with further expansion planned ahead.
Research & Development Expansion Project
On March 8th 2016, Premier Kathleen Wynne met with senior Huawei Canada officials to announce Ontario’s $16M investment in a total $212M expansion of our R&D facilities and capabilities. The plan, called 5G Ontario, focuses on advanced communications initiatives, and will create up to 250 new R&D positions at our facilities in Ottawa, Markham and Waterloo.
Education
As part of our announcement on November 1st, Huawei has reaffirmed our commitment to Universities and Research institutions in Ontario and across Canada. Huawei will invest between $6m-$9m annually in advanced communications research projects with Universities in Ontario, Quebec and across Canada.
Since 2010, our Canada Research Centre in Ottawa has played a central role in establishing Huawei as one of the global leaders in transformative 5G technology. Having the innovative research support provided by Canadian Universities is invaluable to expanding that work.
Our commitment also includes a ground-breaking “Seeds for the Future” initiative sponsors up to 20 Canadian engineering students annually to travel to Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, China for a 2-week work study program.
The program will enable students from leading engineering firms across Canada to experience first-hand what it is like to work in a truly global and cross-cultural business environment.