The EU is funding Huawei to run cutting-edge research on next-generation communication systems, even though several European governments have banned the Chinese tech group from their telecoms networks. Huawei’s involvement in multiple sensitive projects, ranging from artificial intelligence to 6G and cloud computing, has come despite Brussels pressing for stricter curbs on the company over security fears. The Financial Times identified Huawei as a participant in 11 projects under the bloc’s flagship Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, receiving up to 14 per cent of funding per scheme totalling €3.89mn. More significant than the value of the funding is the fact that it puts Huawei at the heart of sensitive technologies in Europe despite moves by about a third of EU countries to push out “high-risk vendors” from 5G infrastructure. Huawei provides infrastructure equipment and AI platforms for the EU-backed research projects, which also include quantum sensing, connectivity and a framework for autonomous driving. Some analysts warned the company’s participation could undermine data security within the bloc as well as the EU’s ambition to stay self-reliant in developing critical technological infrastructure.

Full analysis: The EU funds Huawei to run 11 projects, from AI to 6G and cloud computing, despite several EU nations banning the company from their telecom networks.