Now Shenzhen | March 18, 2024
IN a significant move to strengthen its presence in China, U.S. tech giant Apple announced yesterday that it would establish a new state-of-the-art research lab in Shenzhen later this year.
The lab is set to provide robust support for the company’s employees in China and foster deeper partnerships with local suppliers.
The facility is expected to enhance testing and research capabilities for a range of products including the iPhone, iPad, and the recently introduced Apple Vision Pro, according to Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple’s vice president and managing director of Greater China.
Furthermore, the lab will serve as a vital resource for global engineering and design teams, facilitate prototype testing and improvements, and ensure that each device meets Apple’s performance standards.
Situated adjacent to Apple’s production and assembly bases, the lab will enable Apple’s engineers to closely collaborate with suppliers, share their expertise in high-tech production processes, and assist suppliers in improving efficiency.
The lab will also empower Apple to conduct simulated experiments under various conditions and scenarios, such as extreme weather and intense exercise, to ensure optimal product performance. The innovative solutions derived from these experiments will enable Apple to introduce new materials, such as the titanium used in the iPhone 15 Pro, incorporate new technologies like Face ID, and launch cutting-edge products like Apple Vision Pro.
“We are proud to deepen our footprint in Shenzhen and expand our world-class facilities here,” Ge said. “This investment will further deepen our commitment and better support us in delivering world-class products to our users.”
Meanwhile, the company will also enhance the capabilities of its Shanghai research center to provide support for the reliability, quality, and materials analysis of all product lines.
Apple has cumulatively invested 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) in building applied research labs in China.
Apple has been working on development in China for over 30 years, creating over 5 million jobs through employment, its supply chain, and the iOS app economy.
Data show that 151 out of the company’s 200 major suppliers have production activities in China.
Currently, Apple has research and development centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen. Over the past five years, its research and development team in China has doubled in size.
Source: Shenzhen Daily