Huawei and Leica Camera AG announced they have expanded their strategic collaboration with the establishment of Max Berek Innovation Lab, a jointly operated research and innovation center.
The launch comes seven months after the public announcement of their long-term technology partnership in the field of optical engineering, and five months after the launch of the “globally successful”, multiple-award winning Huawei P9 and P9 Plus smartphones.
The new lab, located at Leica’s global HQ in Wetzlar, Germany, will drive further development of optical systems and software-based technologies.
Additional outcomes will include the creation of computational imaging, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions.
The lab’s establishment is the result of the vision and support of Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman of the advisory board of Leica Camera AG, and Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei.
“With the founding of the Max Berek Innovation Lab, Huawei and Leica Camera AG are laying the foundation for close collaboration in R&D of groundbreaking technologies in the imaging segment,” emphasized Kaufmann.
Zhengfei said: “The Max Berek Innovation Lab with Leica will be leading to continuous improvements in image and video quality.”
“Huawei and Leica share not only enormous innovation power and years of research experience, but also their dedication to providing the highest quality standards. The Max Berek Innovation Lab offers us a historic opportunity to unite the resources and extensive expertise of both companies to pioneer game-changing technologies,” said Markus Limberger, COO of Leica Camera AG and director of the Max Berek Innovation Lab.
The R&D center is named in remembrance of Max Berek (1886-1949), the German pioneer of microscopy and creator of the first Leica lenses, who was also responsible for the optical design of more than 20 lenses for the legendary 35 mm camera invented and built by Oskar Barnack.

Source: Arab News