Chinese multinational Huawei has opened a mathematics research center in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, to explore both basic scientific research and short-term strategic products.

The research center will be led by Professor Mérouane Debbah, who specialises in the field of telecommunications. This is the second mathematics research center established by Huawei, following the opening of a similair facility in Russia.

huawei ce bit 2015 by olaf kosinsky 21 lead
– Olaf Kosinsky / Skillshare.eu

Summing up

Specific types of research cited by Huawei include research into the physical and network layers of communications, distributed and parallel computing, data compression and storage, and other basic algorithms, as well as strategic products such as 5G. The company also said the team aims to design an overall architecture for distributed algorithms.

“We will inevitably face physical barriers or homogeneity problems as the information society continues to develop. Mathematics is crucial for developing advanced, high-performance, and differentiated chips and software products,” Debbah said.

The professor added: “ To support communications and information processing with lower latency, higher bandwidth, and better power efficiency, we need to make theoretical breakthroughs.

“This Mathematics Research Center will conduct in-depth research on mathematical algorithms, design new architecture and algorithms, apply new mathematical tools and models to the ICT sector, and build a new theory system. Meanwhile, Huawei will forge close partnerships with Supélec, Eurocom, Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies (IHES), Télécom ParisTech, and other colleges and universities.”

William Xu, executive director of the board at Huawei, said the company invests approximately 10–15 percent of its sales revenues in R&D every year.

“It is our long-term, patient investment that has led to strategic breakthroughs. For example, Huawei’s Russian mathematicians have made revolutionary breakthroughs in algorithms for 2G and 3G systems. The integration of algorithms has enabled Huawei to produce more competitive, lighter, and smaller products.”

Thierry Mandon, French Minister of State for higher education and academic research who attended the facility’s opening ceremony, said: “The opening of Huawei mathematics R&D Center is proof of the excellence of the French school teaching of maths and more widely in the quality of research in France recognized worldwide today.”

The research center employs more than 80 researchers, and according to Debbah one of its goals is to train more young French talent for the global ICT industry.

To learn more about Huawei’s strategy and enterprise data center plans, go to DCDi Research.