Search our blog for articles and insights right here, just type your interest and dive into a world of knowledge.
Popular articles
Exclusive: Optica’s Covert Ties to Huawei Exposed
Insider revelations have surfaced about Optica's undisclosed partnership with Huawei Technologies Co., spotlighting the complexities surrounding a nonprofit scientific society's covert engagements. These details, derived from internal documents reviewed by Bloomberg News, emphasize a tangled web of interactions and secret sponsorships, igniting concerns of national security and academic transparency.
Secret Meeting Raises Red Flags
Elizabeth Rogan, CEO of Optica, took a highly publicized trip to China, absent of which was a crucial visit to Huawei's headquarters. Her clandestine discussions with Huawei became part of a whistleblower complaint. Discreetly exchanged funds and hidden sponsorships exemplified a longstanding partnership between Optica and the Chinese telecom titan, intensifying amid escalating US-China tech tensions.
Whistleblower Complaint and Congressional Scrutiny
An employee's April 4 complaint to Optica’s general counsel highlighted Rogan’s undisclosed Huawei visit, stressing the jeopardy posed to US government-funded research. Despite Optica's denial that research was funneled to Huawei or China, concerns were raised about DARPA-backed projects being inadvertently compromised. Optica, after congressional pressure, opted to return Huawei's funds and excluded the company’s representatives from judging panels.
Deepening Concerns Over Funding Transparency
Optica’s clandestine collaboration with Huawei enabled the latter to remain entwined with US scientific research despite federal restrictions. The veiled sponsorship affected researchers, some of whom won Pentagon funding simultaneously. This undisclosed contractual relationship blurred transparency lines, raising potential false claims against Optica's foundation for researchers unknowingly breaching federal funding rules.
Long-Standing Ties Between Optica and Huawei
Rogan and Optica’s decades-long relationship with Huawei extended beyond mere sponsorships. Huawei's integration included peer reviews for Optica’s journals and collaboration on significant conferences. Moments from a 2022 board meeting revealed Huawei's deep-rooted involvement—dating back to at least 2007—with Rogan underscoring longstanding ties.
Conflict of Interest in Selection Processes
Documents indicate that Huawei influenced the choice of judges for Optica’s research competition, a role ending only after Bloomberg’s exposé. Huawei-recommended candidates, including a company executive, were selected, ensuring the telecom giant's indirect yet impactful influence over who received funding.
Government and Academic Reactions
Institutions like Vanderbilt University returned Huawei-linked funds after the sponsorship's revelation. Government entities like DARPA and the NSF remain vigilant, tracking and mitigating undue foreign influences. Specialists argue that the covert operations targeted US talent, aligning with China's strategic priorities in key research areas.
Further Entanglements of Notable Scientists
Professor Alan Willner of USC, previously funded by Huawei, chaired the selection committee for Optica's competition. His department saw two junior scientists win Huawei-funded awards while concurrently engaging in DARPA projects, underscoring the pervasive conflicts and the necessity for stringent oversight.
Concluding Remarks
The intricate, opaque relationship between Optica and Huawei underscores the complexities scientific societies face amid geopolitical tensions. As revelations unfold, questions arise about the balance between global collaboration and national security, urging institutions to foster transparency and integrity.
