Lenovo (LNVGY) China and Microsoft (MSFT) China have signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing and jointly announced the foundation of an innovation center.

The new Lenovo-Microsoft Joint Innovation Center is the first of its kind that Microsoft has ever set up with a business partner. It is believed to be a signal that Microsoft will have closer cooperation with Lenovo in the future.

He Zhiqiang, CTO of Lenovo, disclosed that the joint innovation center is located inside Lenovo's Beijing research institute, and Lenovo will provide about 40 engineers and Microsoft will offer its innovation ideas and technology development experience as well as technical training for the center.