Huawei and the University of Edinburgh announce opening of joint lab for data management

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology solution provider, today announced a partnership with the University of Edinburgh to open a new lab for distributed data management and processing. The three-year partnership will allow Huawei and the University of Edinburgh to jointly explore new theories and technologies in data management and provide direction for cutting-edge research into the next generation of information technology. The new lab will be housed in the University's School of Informatics.

The announcement was made at Huawei's European Innovation Day in London. At the event, Ken Hu, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Rotating CEO at Huawei, and Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, signed and celebrated the partnership agreement, in the presence of Professor David Robertson, Dean of the University’s College of Science and Engineering, and Professor Wenfei Fan, Director of the new lab.

The framework agreement presents a new collaborative model for Huawei and leading universities. The partnership follows a long-term collaboration between database experts at the University of Edinburgh and Huawei. The lab will investigate scientific and engineering research challenges relevant to academia and industry. Its experts will seek to develop the fundamental science underpinning these and help translate their findings for use on a global scale. It is hoped this will contribute to the broad knowledge base in the field while also supporting the innovation that is characteristic of modern systems engineering.

Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, said: "The University of Edinburgh is delighted to partner with Huawei to perform further research into data science and data management. The creation of this laboratory gives our researchers the opportunity to apply their expertise to large-scale, real world challenges in this very exciting area."

Ken Hu, Huawei's Rotating CEO, said: "Huawei is a long-term advocate of open innovation. We work with over 100 leading universities around the world, and the joint lab we are launching with the University of Edinburgh will go a long way in helping the ICT industry further its research into data science and enable digital transformation. The links between industrial and academic communities are strong here, so Europe is an excellent place for collaboration between business and academia."

Huawei has held its European Innovation Day for five consecutive years. The event is designed to promote more integrated collaboration across the ICT ecosystem, including scientists, scholars, opinion leaders, and engineers from partner organizations, in order to more effectively drive Europe's innovation agenda forward.