UNAM, Huawei Renew Cybersecurity, 5G, and AI Research Alliance

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), through the Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (ICAT), renewed its collaboration agreement with Huawei Technologies de México. The alliance seeks to continue research in cybersecurity, telecommunications and emerging technologies, in addition to specialized training and talent development.

"Huawei approached UNAM as part of its global policy to collaborate with research institutions. Being Mexico's leading university, they were interested in establishing this alliance, allowing us to develop key studies such as regulatory proposals for 5G deployment and cybersecurity analysis in Mexico," says José Luis Solleiro, Coordinator of the Strategic Innovation Management Group, ICAT.

The collaboration between ICAT and Huawei dates back to 2020, when the Chinese company sought to strengthen its ties with academic institutions to boost R&D. In Mexico, UNAM positioned itself as a strategic ally due to its leadership in research and talent training. The collaboration facilitated studies and the creation of a series of technological surveillance bulletins on cybersecurity, which address topics such as international regulations and cyberattack typologies. In addition, a Diploma in Cybersecurity Management is now offered to professionals from the public and private sectors.

The renewal of the agreement between ICAT and Huawei includes the second edition of the Diploma in Cybersecurity Management, scheduled for 2025, as well as training courses for legislators and government officials. These efforts seek to raise awareness of the importance of robust cybersecurity regulations, an area in which Mexico still lacks a specific law, despite more than 20 initiatives presented in the legislature.

The collaboration will expand into the study of Generative AI. "Mexico must analyze whether it requires regulation in this area and, if so, determine its characteristics," says Solleiro. This approach will include the generation of proposals based on technical and comparative studies with regulations such as those of the European Union.

Other UNAM entities, such as the Applied Mathematics and Systems Research Institute, the Renewable Energy Institute, and the Legal Research Institute, have also established links with Huawei. This broadens the scope of collaboration and opens up new opportunities for interdisciplinary projects.

Finally, the alliance benefits UNAM students, who can access special scholarships and participate in international expert meetings. This synergy between academia and industry not only strengthens the training of human resources, but also positions Mexico as a relevant player in the global discussion on emerging technologies and their regulation.