Despite being blacklisted by the US, Huawei continues to fund research at American universities, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Chinese tech giant is the sole funder of a research competition managed by the Optica Foundation, based in Washington, which focuses on optics and photonics.

Key points about Huawei funding research at American universities:

– The competition started in 2022 and has awarded millions of dollars to scientists worldwide.
– Leading US universities, including Harvard, have participated in the competition despite cutting ties with Huawei.
– Huawei’s funding of the program is not publicly disclosed, allowing the company to support international research without promoting its name.
– In contrast to its approach in Europe, where Huawei prominently displays its name on scientific hubs it supports.
– Optica Foundation’s CEO notes that many donors prefer to remain anonymous, including some from the US.

Huawei is one of the top-level funders of the Optica Foundation, having contributed over $1 million since its inception. This funding policy does not violate US regulations prohibiting technology sharing with Huawei. The resulting research could have both defense and commercial applications and may help Huawei recruit promising individuals and acquire intellectual property.

In summary, despite facing challenges in the US market, Huawei remains committed to supporting international research through partnerships with organizations like the Optica Foundation. This collaboration allows for important advancements in optics and photonics while maintaining a level of discretion regarding funding sources.