U.S. tech giant Apple launched its new applied research science lab in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (HTCZ) on Thursday afternoon.

Positioned as Apple’s primary research center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the lab will focus on areas like hardware development, intelligent manufacturing, and joint research and development with local suppliers. These efforts will enhance the company’s testing and research capabilities for iPhones, iPads, and Apple Vision Pros. Phase I of the lab has a total area of 20,000 square meters.

The project will receive a total investment of over 1 billion yuan (US$141 million), and its R&D team will include more than 1,000 high-end talent from home and abroad.

Moreover, Apple will deepen its cooperation with local companies to cultivate a complete industrial chain covering design, R&D, commercial transformation, and production for new products.

The lab is designed to encompass business operations of Apple Greater China, including the R&D operations originally planned for the Asia Pacific, which will further consolidate Shenzhen’s core role in Apple’s intelligent manufacturing and supply chain.

Apple has already set up research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen. (Mu Zi)