The Leica camera in the Hauwei P9, announced a few months ago, is not a one-off fad in the relationship between the German camera manufacturer and the Chinese conglomerate. Leica’s Dr.Andreas Kaufmann and Hauwei founder Ren Zhengfei have signed a new collaboration agreement which will see the Max Berek Innovation Lab established at Wetzlar. The two companies will collaborate in the fields of new optical systems, computational imagining, virtual reality and augmented reality. Mr. Ren commented:
In the future, over 90 per cent of the data traffic will be images and videos,” said Ren Zhengfei, founder of HUAWEI. “The Max Berek Innovation Lab provides the capacity to establish an even closer partnership with Leica, leading to continuous improvements in image and video quality. As a result, we will deliver the most advanced innovations in the smartphone camera market and bring greater value to consumers.
Here is the full release from Leica
Leica Camera and HUAWEI Establish New R&D Centre
‘Max Berek Innovation Lab’ will conduct R&D in the fields of new optical systems, computational imaging, virtual reality and augmented reality
Wetzlar, Germany – 23 September 2016: HUAWEI and Leica Camera AG today announced that they have expanded their strategic collaboration with the establishment of a jointly operated research and innovation centre, the Max Berek Innovation Lab. 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, multi-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 to improve imaging quality in a wide range of photographic and mobile device applications. Additional outcomes will include the creation of computational imaging, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions. In addition to R&D resources from both companies, HUAWEI and Leica plan to collaborate with German and international universities and research institutions.
The Lab’s establishment is the result of the vision and support of Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman of the advisory board of Leica Camera AG, and Ren Zhengfei, founder of HUAWEI.
“With the founding of the Max Berek Innovation Lab, HUAWEI and Leica Camera AG are expanding the scope of their successful strategic relationship and are laying the foundation for close collaboration in research and development of ground-breaking technologies in the imaging segment,” emphasised Dr. Andreas Kaufmann.
“In the future, over 90 per cent of the data traffic will be images and videos,” said Ren Zhengfei, founder of HUAWEI. “The Max Berek Innovation Lab provides the capacity to establish an even closer partnership with Leica, leading to continuous improvements in image and video quality. As a result, we will deliver the most advanced innovations in the smartphone camera market and bring greater value to consumers.”
“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,” confirmed Markus Limberger, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Leica Camera AG and director of the Max Berek Innovation Lab.
The R&D centre is named in memory of Max Berek (1886 – 1949), the German pioneer of microscopy and creator of the first Leica lenses. Berek was also responsible for the optical design of more than 20 lenses for the legendary 35mm camera, invented and built by Oskar Barnack. Thanks to the exceptional imaging performance and perfect harmonisation of the lenses, coupled with Barnack’s ingenious construction, Leica achieved worldwide success in 35mm photography.
Before there are any more comments about ‘Geordies’, the correct pronunciation is ‘hwa wei’ usually pronounced something like ‘ who wah way’ with elision. I should know this as I used to attend regular business meetings with this company and have chaired conference sessions where they had a speaker on the panel. At the meetings only one or two of the Huawei attendees could speak English, but the ones who could usually adopted English names like ‘Tony’.
As for Apple and Leica and previous comments about ‘why don’t they etc’, a very cursory glance at Apple’s modus operandi, where they effectively ‘own’ everything, would reveal why that marriage would never work. Dr Kaufmann has as good as said this in interviews.
I believe that Leica are right to diversify in the light of the collapse of the compact/consumer camera market.
William
My comments are meant affectionately, since I am very tempted by this P9 phone… For me the issue is size, I love the camera and the Leica software is supposed to be very usable. If there is a fault for me, it is due to the proprietary OS shell… It runs on a fixed version of Android unlike the Nexus phone, also made by Huawei, which can be updated with new releases of Google sweetmeats.
I too am pleased that they don’t team up with Apple…
I the end, as an Apple user since 2009 (only), it is a case of love/hate and absolute despair at Microsoft.
Oh how I wish IBM would return to personal computing! I spent a lifetime working with their systems and they are logical, efficient and THEY WORK!