Hewlett-Packard said on Tuesday it has established a research laboratory in China. The printer and computer OEM joins such tech giants as Microsoft, Intel and IBM in having research facilities in the world's most populous country.

HP also has labs in Palo Alto, Calif.; Bangalore, India; Bristol, U.K.; Haifa, Israel; and Tokyo, Japan.

Since 2003, HP has worked with the Ministry of Education to build out information and computing infrastructures for China's universities. "We are collaborating with them to build the technology," said Meichun Hsu, director, HP Labs China. "The technology we derive from there we hope to leverage worldwide."

One project involves using an open source HP Labs technology to create one of the world's largest distributed virtual museums by aggregating content from more than 100 university museums throughout the country and placing it in one massive online database. Another project focuses on the management of a Ministry of Education effort to integrate resources from certain key universities on the China Education Research Network.

HP also hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Information Industry to develop standards. The organization focuses on Linux operating systems and mobile telecommunications standards. Four Chinese Version Linux Application Interface documents have been submitted to the Ministry of Information Industry for approval early next year, according to the People's Daily Online.

Information technologies have been the driving force behind rapid economic growth in emerging countries. It's transforming social and economic activity faster than the steam engine, railroads and electricity did in years gone by, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

To assist China in the growth, HP is looking for ways to offer more services based on the country's cellular infrastructure. Analyst firm iSuppli Corp. forecasts 402 million cellular subscribers in China this year, up from 335 million in 2004, said Joe Abelson, vice president of emerging market for analyst firm.

HP has been in China for 20 years, but the lab brings new research capability to the company's already established research and development, and manufacturing facilities in China. The Beijing lab builds on a long-established relationship with China's universities and research community. It also strengthens HP's collaboration with the China Ministry of Education.

(CRI November 16, 2005)