IPSWICH, U.K. -- Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today announced the acquisition of the Centre for Integrated Photonics Ltd (CIP), a world-leading photonics research laboratory, from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

CIP will significantly deepen the optical research and development (R&D) capabilities of Huawei and demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to R&D in the UK. The CIP R&D team, which is located in Ipswich, will be retained by Huawei and will form the core of the new Huawei UK R&D centre, part of Huawei’s global R&D network.

CIP has a reputation as a world-class incubator in fibre optic transmission and carries out world-leading cutting edge research work in this hi tech area. Huawei will continue to invest in fibre optic R&D to ensure that CIP remains an innovator in this important technology sector.

EEDA’s Chairman, Professor Will Pope said “This is a tremendous investment success story for EEDA, which acquired CIP in 2003 from its then American owners to save it from closure. EEDA’s mission was to ensure that a key UK technology company was not lost from the hi tech business base of the East of England.”

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.