Huawei's John Lord
Huawei Australia has opened a new national training and innovation centre in its Chatswood, Sydney office. NSW premier, Mike Baird, and Huawei global rotating CEO, Ken Hu, inaugurated the new premises.
Huawei Australia has invested $30 million in establishing this centre, which aims to develop an Australian community of leading telecoms professionals.
The centre will enable the ICT community including partners and customers to conduct experiments and tests, train with and investigate ICT equipment and software.
With the capacity to train more than 2000 people each year, the new centre is equipped with some of the latest technology including wireless, fixed technology as well as unified communication solutions.
According to Huawei, this local investment is an extension of Huawei’s capabilities across its 16 research and development centers and 28 joint innovation centres worldwide.
Hu claimed the centre will enable Huawei’s staff, partners and customers with access to the latest ICT technologies. In addition, it will increase the number of people trained on the latest ICT products.
In addition to customers and partners, Australian higher education students are among those set to benefit from Huawei Australia’s $30 million investment.
Huawei will fund the training of at least 100 Universities and TAFE students as part of its broader commitment to investing in the local community.
“For the first time through Huawei’s corporate social responsibility program, Seeds for the Future, local universities and TAFE students will have access and training at the centre. Currently this level of training has to be undertaken overseas,” he said.
Hu added that Huawei spent over $US6.6 billion on research and development in 2014 and more than $US30 billion over the last 10 years.
“Innovation has become part of our DNA. That’s why we invest at least 10 per cent of our revenue each year in R&D since the company's founding in 1987. Just like capital and technology, talent is a key success factor for innovation,” he claimed.
Baird said there is a strong market for new technologies in NSW, and the NSW government welcomes Huawei’s investment and commitment to creating a better ICT sector in this state.
“NSW and China’s Guangdong Province, where Huawei is based, share a Sister State relationship that spans 36 years. The company’s decision to establish a training and innovation centre in Sydney is an example of the strength of the relationship.”
“I also welcome Huawei’s investment in training local TAFE and university students, which will ensure we have the talent needed to make the most of the ICT innovation and shape our future economy,” he added.
