Huawei, the global technology giant, is making a bold move to cement its position as a leader in innovation. The company has unveiled its latest research and development (R&D) campus, the LianQiu Lake Center, located on the outskirts of Shanghai. This massive facility, spanning an impressive 160 hectares, is set to become the largest of Huawei’s R&D hubs, employing a staggering 35,000 workers by the end of 2026.
The decision to construct this new R&D citadel is a strategic one, as Huawei aims to create an environment that will attract top talent from around the world. As Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, explains, «Our goal is to create a conducive environment for foreign scientists to work and live. Benefits like 100 cafeterias and better infrastructure will further attract young talents from abroad.»
The LianQiu Lake Center is larger than the combined areas of Apple Park (71 hectares) and Microsoft’s Redmond Campus (74 hectares), and it was completed in just 4 years. The campus features a tram system with eight stations to facilitate the movement of workers between the more than 180 buildings that make up this impressive complex.
A Diverse R&D Ecosystem
The expansive facilities of the LianQiu Lake Center include dozens of laboratories, classrooms, offices, cafeterias, testing rooms, auditoriums, technology exhibition spaces, and numerous recreational areas. Currently, around 28,000 researchers are already working on-site, alongside 3,000 dedicated maintenance and service personnel.
The research activities underway at the LianQiu Lake Center span a wide range of projects, from developing new smart devices and chips to electric vehicles, data centers, applications, 5G and advanced 5G infrastructure, AI training, wireless networks, and technologies for converting solar energy into electricity.
Huawei’s Commitment to Innovation
The LianQiu Lake Center is the latest addition to Huawei’s growing network of R&D hubs, which includes the Ox Horn campus in Dongguan, as well as facilities in Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Wuhan. While the Ox Horn campus, with its 25,000 workers, previously served as the heart of Huawei’s research efforts, the new Shanghai facility now takes the lead in size and scale.
Huawei’s commitment to innovation is evident in its substantial investments in R&D. Over the past 5 years, the company has dedicated more than 20% of its annual revenue to research and development, equivalent to over $24 billion in the last year and over $22 billion in 2023. This sustained focus on innovation has also resulted in Huawei holding more than 150,000 active patents as of the end of 2024, making it the world’s largest patent applicant for 8 consecutive years.
Fostering a Smarter, Greener Future
The LianQiu Lake Center, with its modern design and Eastern-influenced architecture, stands in contrast to the Ox Horn campus, which features replicas of European universities and cultural landmarks. However, the underlying mission remains the same: to contribute cutting-edge technology for a more connected, intelligent, and sustainable world.
As Huawei continues to push the boundaries of innovation, the LianQiu Lake Center will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology, attracting the brightest minds from around the globe to collaborate on groundbreaking solutions that will transform our world.
