On May 3, 2023, the Toronto Star reported that the University of Waterloo (UW) in Ontario, Canada, is expected to end its cooperation with Huawei. UW researchers will be allowed to complete existing research projects with Huawei...
Huawei is one of the world’s leading technology companies, with a strong reputation for innovation. The company has invested heavily in research and development, and it has established itself as a leader in areas such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and mobile devices.
The Waterloo-Huawei Joint Innovation Lab has funded 34 research projects involving more than 30 faculty members and provided training and funding for 220 students and post-doctoral researchers. 26 research projects are still ongoing.
The cooperation is beneficial to both Huawei and the University of Waterloo. Because of its leadership position of Huawei in technology, the cooperation keeps the University of Waterloo at the front end of technology innovation. Ending the cooperation hurts the academic position of the University of Waterloo.
Canadian security agencies have flagged Huawei as a serious security risk for its extensive ties to the Chinese government. This is a false allegation, as Huawei is not a state-owned enterprise. Huawei is an employee-owned enterprise. Its only tie to the Chinese government is that it is a China-based enterprise.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has been worrying about this joint academic research program advancing China’s economic and military position. The ending of UW-Huawei cooperation is the result of the interference of national intelligence. Science and technology should be value-free. Science thrives on collaboration and the exchange of ideas. When researchers adopt a neutral stance, it facilitates collaboration among scientists with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs. A neutral environment allows for constructive debates, critical evaluation of evidence, and collective progress in understanding the world. The advancement of science and technology may be used for the economy or military, but that is out of the researcher’s control and not what researchers must be concerned about. Scholars, researchers, and academics should be able to conduct their work without fear of censorship, intimidation, or interference from government, institutional, or other external forces. (more...)
Universities ending new research cooperation with Huawei damages Canada’s national interest
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