Chinese giant Huawei has announced an opening of its new R&D centre in the UK, in Bristol. With planned addition of 30 new highly skilled jobs, the new facility will bring the total of the UK-based R&D positions to 140.
This number is expected to grow further and reach 300 by 2017, the company says.
The new facility in Bristol will open later this year and is expected to complement of Huawei’s existing optoelectronics R&D centre in Ipswich.
"Technology is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK, which is why I am determined to make Britain the centre of tech industries. When I went to China, I visited the Huawei headquarters and met with CEO and Founder, Mr Ren, to highlight the opportunities in Britain. I am delighted that today Huawei are announcing a new R&D centre in the UK. The decision of the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker to innovate in Britain is testament to the outstanding quality of our highly skilled workforce and further evidence that our long term economic plan is working,” says George Osborne, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Huawei began its operations in the UK in 2001 and currently hires over 900 people in 15 offices. This number is expected to rise to 1,500 by 2017, it says. The new centre has been launched as a part of the company’s UK Innovation Programme.