SHENZHEN, China, June 28 (Reuters) - In a small room packed with a drone, a bipedal robot, and other devices, the future of China’s software landscape is on display. Here, an operating system developed by Huawei has taken the place of Windows and Android.

This vision is showcased at the Harmony Ecosystem Innovation Centre in Shenzhen. This government-owned entity encourages the use of OpenHarmony, an open-source version of Huawei’s HarmonyOS, launched five years ago after U.S. sanctions cut off support for Google’s Android.

While Huawei's recent smartphone launches have drawn attention for advancements in China’s chip supply chain, the company has also focused on building expertise in key technology sectors. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for China to localize operating systems and other technology as U.S. export restrictions tighten.

OpenHarmony is promoted within China as a “national operating system,” amid concerns over potential disconnection from Microsoft’s Windows and Android. “This move could reduce the market share of Western operating systems in China,” said Sunny Cheung from the Jamestown Foundation.

In Q1 2024, Huawei's HarmonyOS became the second best-selling mobile OS in China, surpassing Apple’s iOS. Huawei has transferred control of OpenHarmony to the OpenAtom Foundation, yet both are often referred to interchangeably within the broader Harmony ecosystem.

The growth of HarmonyOS, which is expected to launch a PC version soon, will likely boost OpenHarmony’s adoption. Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, stated that HarmonyOS lays a powerful foundation for China’s devices.

Since being placed under trade restrictions in 2019, Huawei has accelerated efforts for self-sufficiency. China has also shifted from Github to its local version, Gitee. Government computers, banned from using Windows since 2014, now mostly operate on Linux-based systems.

This year, Huawei launched a “pure” HarmonyOS version that no longer supports Android-based apps, further separating China’s app ecosystem. OpenHarmony’s owner, OpenAtom, is coordinating efforts to develop alternatives to U.S. technologies, including for defense applications.

OpenHarmony has become the fastest-growing open-source OS for smart devices, with significant contributions from various organizations and numerous products across multiple sectors. By making it open-source, Huawei aims to emulate Android’s success, removing licensing costs and providing a customizable platform.

Shenzhen has strongly supported the Harmony ecosystem, with plans to open more innovation centers across China. Key developers include Shenzhen Kaihong Digital and Chinasoft, which have contributed to significant projects.

While largely confined to China, OpenHarmony is being used by the Eclipse Foundation in Brussels for developing mobile and IoT systems. Huawei’s growing smartphone market share and ecosystem efforts give Harmony an advantage. More than 900 million devices currently run HarmonyOS, with 2.4 million developers involved in its ecosystem.

“OpenHarmony will need time to build developer confidence,” said Emma Xu from Canalys. “But HarmonyOS’s achievements will positively impact OpenHarmony’s reputation and adoption.”