Chongqing- Chongqing University (CQU) marked a key achievement with the launch of the OpenHarmony Technology Club on January 5, signifying a strengthened strategic partnership with tech giant Huawei.
CQU’s Huxi Campus. (Photo/ Chongqing University)
CQU and Huawei’s longstanding collaboration, including projects like the “Wotu Program” and “Intelligent Pedestal,” has been focused on merging industry with education and digitalizing learning. This partnership was further solidified in August 2023 with a strategic agreement to develop a benchmark smart campus and jointly train elite engineers. The OpenHarmony Technology Club is a key element of this alliance.
OpenHarmony is an open-source project managed by the OpenAtom Foundation to develop a versatile operating system framework for smart devices. This initiative is a crucial step towards a more connected and intelligent era, fostering the growth of the Internet of Things industry.
Established in Beijing in June 2020 by leading tech companies, including Alibaba, Baidu, and Huawei, the OpenAtom Foundation is China’s inaugural open-source software foundation committed to supporting the global open-source community.
Chen Haibo, Chairman of the OpenHarmony Project Group Technical Steering Committee and Chief Scientist of Huawei Basic Software, emphasized that the club will boost collaboration across industry, academia, and research. It is dedicated to cultivating a dynamic OpenHarmony ecosystem, tackling industrial technical issues, facilitating academic research, and aiding in the development of technology and industrial standards.
Liu Duo, Deputy Dean of the College of Computer Science at CQU and Director of the OpenHarmony Technology Club, outlined the club’s objectives. These include concentrating on OpenHarmony technology, encouraging open-source innovation, and creating vital software.
Liu added that the club intends to meet critical business and national needs, establish an open platform, and enhance OpenHarmony’s application in diverse industries. It also plans to bridge science and education by fostering collaborations between academic institutions and enterprises.
Zheng Weimin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor at Tsinghua University, highlighted the importance of research on large models in operating systems and the need for a healthy ecosystem for sustained industry growth. He emphasized the necessity to enhance software capabilities, including programming frameworks and AI compilers, to advance the domestic AI ecosystem through a well-developed software environment.
The launch of the OpenHarmony Technology Club at CQU is a testament to the growing synergy between educational institutions and the tech industry, promising to usher in a new era of innovation and technological advancement.