In 1993, Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd. (MCEL) set up its first research and development center in China -- Global Software Group China Center, which is also the first multinational R&D center in this country. On November 3, 1999, MCEL announced the opening of Motorola China Research and Development Institute (MCRDI) in Beijing, emphasizing Motorola's commitment to R&D and collaboration with technology partners in China. MCRDI is a sharing and learning community which through cooperation and participation in internal and external programs further strengthens the leadership role of Motorola China, actively leverages business opportunities, and effectively expands the growth potential for individual R&D members and respective teams. With 10 employees and 1 R&D center eleven years ago, MCRDI has grown into the biggest multinational R&D institute in China which has over 1500 R&D staff and 15 R&D centers (in addition to four R&D centers and about 200 employees work for Freescale Semiconductor, formerly Motorola's semiconductor sector).

MCRDI's establishment positively responded to the Chinese policies of developing national strength through science and education. Combining China's uniquely rich talent pool with Motorola's cutting-edge technology, MCRDI bolsters China's competency in the world's telecommunications industry. MCRDI's research and development focus on the following areas: advanced materials research, software development, personal communications product design and development, product development of auto electronics products, man-machine interaction technologies in future hardware and software applications, batteries and other accessories for portable electronic devices, etc.

To provide a platform to recognize and to promote the growth of MCRDI's engineers, MCRDI hosts an annual Motorola China Technology Symposium, the first of which was successfully held in Beijing with guests from the government and partners from research institutions, such as Institution of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Science.

Fan Boyuan, Vice Mayor of Beijing Opening remarks at the 2nd Motorola China Technology Symposium

Padmasree Warrior, Executive Vice President and CTO of Motorola Opening remarks at the 2nd Motorola China Technology Symposium

MCRDI coordinates a number of joint programs with local government institutions, universities and R&D institutes. Now Motorola China R&D Institute has several joint programs with local universities, companies and government agencies. Such cooperation and exchange not only help Motorola achieving its long-term development goals in China, but facilitating the reform of traditional Chinese scientific research methodologies by research, education and seminars.

MCRDI has six patent committees aimed at fostering innovations within the institute. These committees focus on patent applications in the following areas respectively: telecommunications, software, personal communications, energy systems, advanced materials research, etc. As a pioneer and innovator in research and development, Motorola has always been dedicated to new technology development, and the total number of applications for patents by Motorola China during the period from 1985 to 2003 has reached 2305, which is one of the top multinational companies in China.

Milestones of MCRDI

1992
Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd. was established in Tianjin. Today the company runs one of the world's major manufacturing facilities for communications equipment. In China today, Motorola has 4 wholly-owned companies, 1 holding company, 6 joint ventures and 22 branch companies. The total number of employees is over 9,000. Up to the end of 2003, Motorola's investment in China was close to US$3.4 billion, which makes it one of the largest foreign-invested companies in China.

1993
Global Software Group (GSG) China Center was established in Beijing with the charter of providing software solutions to Motorola businesses and customers around the world. This was the first multinational R&D center established in China.

1994
Motorola Paging Group China R&D Center was established in Beijing.

1995
Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS) China Design Center (CDC) was established in Beijing, responsible for the R&D of 2G/2.5G/3G mobile communication systems.

Digital DNA Laboratories (DDL) China was established in Beijing, focusing on predictive technology of semiconductor research and related software development.

The first Motorola Microcontroller Unit (MCU) Application Center was founded in Tsinghua University, carrying out MCU educational programs, design experiments and application research.

Motorola Advanced Technology Center-Asia was established in Tianjin, conducting materials analysis in the field of electronic manufacturing and assembly.

1996
Joint Research & Development Laboratory for Advanced Computer and Communication Technologies (JDL) was founded. Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Motorola were the co-sponsors of this lab.

1997
The Fist Symposium of Motorola Manufacturing Technology was held in Tianjin.

1998
Motorola set up Suzhou IC Design Center, bringing the company's state-of-the-art micro-controller IC design technology into China.

Motorola Greater China Cellular R&D Center was established in Beijing, responsible for cellular phone design and development.

1999
Motorola China announced the establishment of Motorola China Research and Development Institute (MCRDI), the mission is to promote Motorola's long-term success in China through technology development and innovations.

Motorola set up Personal Communications Sector (PCS) Beijing R&D Center by consolidating its two Cellular and Paging R&D centers in Beijing.

Motorola built its first MCU R&D center in Little Swan Group Co. in Wuxi. It was Motorola's first R&D center that had been set up within a Chinese enterprise. The center successfully integrated Motorola MCU into Little Swan's washing machines. One of the models even won the prestigious National New Product Award.

2000
Embedded System Development Lab was established, as the result of the smooth transition from the JDL Operation. The lab focuses on enhancing Motorola semiconductor's presence in China and growing the market through technical support.

GTSS China Design Center and GSG China received Capability Maturity Model (CMM) Level Five respectively. This is the highest recognition for software development organizations around the world.

Energy Systems Group (ESG) Tianjin Design Center was established. The center was later moved to Shanghai to form ESG Shanghai Design Center in 2002.

Motorola China Research Center was established in Shanghai, as a point of presence of Motorola Labs in China, conducting human-machine interface related research.

2001
Motorola Computer Group Shanghai Technology Center was founded, encompassing designing boards and software for the use of customers in their embedded computing applications.

Motorola Board meeting was held in Beijing. It was announced that in addition to being the manufacturing base, China will become one of Motorola's major R&D bases.

2002
Motorola Qiangxin Tianjin Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Center was set up in Tianjin.

In December, Motorola received the Golden Bridge Award from Beijing Technology Market Association, an affiliate of Beijing Science and Technology Commission. This makes Motorola the first international high-tech company to receive this award.

2003
GTSS Basestation Transceiver System Center of Excellence was established in January.

Three new PCS R&D centers, PCS End to End Solution Development (E2E), PCS Client Applications and Architectures(CAA), and PCS Consumer Experience Design (CXD) were added into MCRDI in April.

The 1st Motorola China Technology Symposium with the theme of "The Emerging Role of China R&D in Motorola" was held successfully in Beijing.

2004
Automotive Communications and Electronic Systems Group China Center was established in Shanghai.

Motorola (China) Technologies Limited was established in Beijing in order to continue and strengthen Motorola's technology innovations and growth in China.