Huawei to Help HEC Setup R&D Lab in Pakistan

[Muhammad Omar]

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Huawei Technologies have entered into a strategic partnership and signed a Document of Understanding (DOU) to enhance collaboration through research and development initiatives aimed towards promoting and encouraging higher education institutions for joint development of technologies in Pakistan

For this purpose, Huawei will assist HEC to setup its R&D Laboratory in Pakistan.

The DoU has been signed during a visit of Chairman HEC and a group of Vice Chancellors to China. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC and Swift Liu, President (Network and Security Product Line) Huawei Technologies signed the agreement.

The DOU will help higher education institutions in Pakistan benefit from the expertise of Huawei especially in R&D and technology development. In addition, the Huawei R&D facility in Pakistan will ensure conducting trainings and workshops for researchers and scientists on technologies which are being deployed in Pakistan.

Further, the facility will provide capacity building opportunities and programmes to laboratory staff and professionals for R&D activities with focus on performance testing on advanced and emerging technologies being deployed in Pakistan.

It is worth mentioning that in 2006, Huawei won a contract on competitive basis from HEC for deployment of first-ever high speed information highway infrastructure, Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) to connect universities and degree awarding institutions across the country. Since then, Huawei and HEC have enjoyed a strong relationship for introduction of diversified technological solutions for higher education sector in Pakistan.

Chairman HEC has stated that this year both organizations will be celebrating 10th year of their partnership, “as both started working together in September 2006.” He said that it was a good time to take their partnership to the next level and make it a strategic partnership. He also appreciated the efforts of HEC team especially Anwar Amjad, Director General (IT) for taking interest in making this initiative possible, which will indeed go a long way for the betterment of two organizations and the two nations.

Swift Liu appreciated the visit of Chairman HEC and the Vice Chancellors/ Rectors. He highlighted Huawei’s commitment and continuous support for R&D laboratory and associated activities along with necessary equipment required in Pakistan.