Huawei Technologies has initiated operations at its new Lianqiu Lake Research and Development (R&D) Center near Shanghai, an ambitious project aimed at advancing homegrown semiconductor technologies and reducing reliance on imported systems. The company has invested over 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in this 160-hectare facility, roughly twice the size of its existing research hub in Dongguan.

Located about 60 kilometers southwest of Shanghai in the Qingpu district, the Lianqiu Lake campus is designed to support Huawei's growth in fields spanning semiconductors, wireless networks, the Internet of Things, and even automobiles. Officials have described the site as a future global R&D center for Huawei, with plans to develop critical technologies like chip lithography, which China has struggled to secure due to export restrictions from countries such as the Netherlands.

The first wave of employees arrived in October 14th, with only a fraction of the sprawling campus currently occupied. Over 20,000 staff are expected to join by Lunar New Year in February 2025, and Huawei projects a total of 30,000 employees by the end of 2026. To support this influx, Qingpu district officials have introduced new bus routes and are constructing a subway station to connect to the campus. This development has caused a sharp increase in local property rents, reportedly nearly doubling in some areas.

Huawei has designed the Lianqiu Lake campus with amenities for an international workforce, including over 100 on-campus cafes to cater to its 700–800 foreign researchers. The campus is modeled after Chicago's Lakeside community, providing a work environment that is conducive to collaboration and innovation in technology fields.

Since being placed on the U.S. Entity List in 2019, Huawei has focused on building its own technological capabilities. The company has launched its HarmonyOS operating system and developed its own 5G smartphone and AI chips, claiming performance levels similar to those of global competitors. Recently, Huawei began sampling its latest Ascend 910C AI processor with major Chinese server companies, aiming to strengthen its presence in AI hardware despite challenges in accessing advanced Western technologies.

This new facility represents Huawei's continued push to build a fully independent tech ecosystem in response to ongoing U.S. trade restrictions, making it a crucial pillar of China's broader strategy to enhance its domestic tech capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technology.