According to a report by Bloomberg, Chinese tech giant Huawei is secretly funding a research competition in the United States.
The competition, managed by the Washington D.C.-based Optica Foundation, has awarded millions of dollars to scientists and researchers globally, including those affiliated with top US universities like Harvard and USC.
However, these universities, along with many others, have restrictions in place against collaboration with Huawei due to national security concerns.
The Optica Foundation’s website has a list of all the research and fellowship programs it organizes throughout the year. Among them is the one backed by Huawei which reportedly offers the highest prize value of $1 million. It is also the only one without a list of individual or corporate sponsors.
Interestingly, according to a confidential document reviewed by Bloomberg, the foundation isn’t obligated to disclose Huawei as the funding source.
The clause is, that the foundation “shall not be required to designate Huawei as the funding source or program sponsor” of the competition, and “the existence and content of this Agreement and the relationship between the Parties shall also be considered Confidential Information.”
Bloomberg also reached out to applicants, university officials, and a judge from the competition to find out if they were aware of Huawei’s involvement.
But none of them knew Huawei’s involvement in it. Many applicants believed that the funding came directly from the Optica Foundation and not a foreign entity.
Optica CEO Liz Rogan has sided with Huawei on this occasion, saying some foundation donors, including US donors, “prefer to remain anonymous” and that “there is nothing unusual about this practice.”
A Huawei spokesperson told Bloomberg that the competition was created solely to support global research and academic exchange. The spokesperson clarified that Huawei’s anonymity was to prevent the contest from being perceived as promotional and that there was no ill intent behind the decision.
The revelation of Huawei’s covert funding is likely to add another layer of tensions between the US and China. Now it remains to be seen how US authorities will react to this news, and what, if any, repercussions Huawei might face.
Related:
- Huawei’s comeback! Takes the throne in China smartphone market, Beats Apple as sales surge
- Reports of Huawei Pura 70 phones using 90% domestic parts turn out to be false
- GC Daily: Huawei Pura 70 series arrives in Europe; First 6G Device is Here
- Xiaomi 13 Ultra Premium Camera Phone is now only $799
- REDMAGIC Magnetic VC Cooler 5 Pro now available at a discounted price at GeekWills
- HyperOS Update Is Available for These Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco Devices in India
