Optica Foundation is a charitable organization based in Washington that was found to have been accepting funds from Huawei to promote global research and academics. The Chinese firm has been awarding millions in prize money to scientists since 2022, and when the U.S. government caught wind of this partnership, their reaction was what you would expect it to be. Two lawmakers have come in guns blazing, criticizing Optica for its involvement with a company that is included in the U.S. trade ban, and now claim that research institutions’ ability to comply with the law has been compromised.
Optica has repeatedly said there was nothing illegal about accepting funds from Huawei
Huawei continues to remain blacklisted by the U.S., which is likely what irked Representative Frank Lucas, the Republican chairman of the committee, and Representative Zoe Lofgren, the top Democrat. According to Bloomberg, both government officials have sent Optica’s Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Rogan nine questions, asking about what grants or donations the charitable organization received from Huawei in 2022 and what percentage of Optica Foundation’s budget comprises donations from the former Chinese giant.
The U.S. lawmakers also provided the following statement, with the top Republican and Democrat on the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology also commenting as follows:
“Optica’s decision to accept Huawei money and distribute it to unknowing recipients flies in the face of the increased risk awareness and transparency we are all working toward in the research security space. By masking the source of the Optica Foundation Challenge funding, your organization has compromised the ability of US research institutions to comply with the law.”
A Huawei spokesperson said that the company’s name was kept private to prevent the contest from being viewed as a promotional event, but aside from that, there was no malicious intent regarding the millions awarded. Rogan has previously said that there was nothing unusual about this practice, that Optica’s entire board was informed about Huawei’s involvement from the start, and that every member agreed to this partnership.
Optica Foundation will likely be probed further regarding its partnership with Huawei. Earlier, some U.S. scientists were barred from working with the company over security concerns, and it is likely that Rogan will be subject to some intense questioning by the U.S. authorities.
News Source: Bloomberg
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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