HKUST Establishes Robotics Industrial Alliance to Advance Industry-Academia-Research
Collaboration in Support of the National "AI+ Initiative"
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)'s Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute (CKSRI) today announced the establishment of its Industrial Alliance, alongside the inaugural CKSRI Industrial Summit. The initiative brings together leaders from academia and industry to strengthen connections between HKUST research teams and a broad network of industry partners, fostering collaboration in research development, technology translation, and talent development. Through the Alliance, CKSRI aims to establish a practical, sustainable collaboration platform that supports the deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across diverse application scenarios. The initiative also aligns with the national "AI+ initiative" outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, contributing to the advancement of embodied intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The Alliance’s founding members span multiple sectors, including autonomous systems, aerial robotics, marine systems, power and energy equipment, computing and semiconductor technologies, and optics. Through this platform, HKUST will contribute its research expertise and technical foundations, while industry partners will provide real-world testing and application environments. Students will also gain opportunities to participate in joint projects and internships with partner organizations, applying their knowledge in practical settings. Together, these efforts aim to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem that connects academia, industry, and research, and to support the long-term development of the robotics sector.
The Alliance's launch coincided with the inaugural CKSRI Industrial Summit, a full-day event that attracted representatives from over 16 organizations. The summit featured distinguished speakers from academia and industry, including Prof. LI Zexiang, Professor of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Colin Lam Ko Yin Professorship at HKUST; Mr. SHENG Kehua, Chief Technology Officer of DiDi Autonomous Driving; Prof. Dario FLOREANO, Director of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL); Dr. CHEN Wenjie, Director of the Robotics & Automation Research Institute at the Midea Corporate Research Center and Dr. ZHANG Zhengyou, Director of Tencent Robotics X Lab. Participants shared insights on the latest developments and practical applications of robotics and AI.
Prof. Tim CHENG Kwan-Ting, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development, said, "Since establishing the Robotics Institute in 2015, HKUST has built strong capabilities in areas such as control and robotics, autonomous systems, smart transportation and manufacturing, and machine learning, while actively promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact. Building on this foundation, the Industrial Alliance represents a significant step forward in deepening engagement with industry. It allows our research outcomes to be tested and refined in real-world settings, thereby accelerating the translation of innovations into practical applications, and creating valuable opportunities for talent development.This initiative further promotes the deep integration of AI technologies across various industries, playing a key role in advancing the deployment of humanoid robotics and supporting the continued development of embodied intelligence.”
Prof. SHI Ling, Director of the Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute and Professor in both the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at HKUST added, "Robotics and AI are steadily advancing into real-world applications, reshaping industries and everyday life. Their development is not driven by breakthroughs in a single technology, nor can it be advanced by any one institution or organization alone; rather, it requires effective collaboration and integration across multiple disciplines. Through the Industrial Alliance, we aim to establish a sustainable collaborative platform that closely connects research, industry, and talent development within a unified network. As more companies join the Alliance, we expect collaboration to evolve from individual projects to broader, large-scale applications, enabling robotics and embodied AI technologies to expand across different sectors while attracting talent and resources to Hong Kong to support long-term growth.”
The CKSRI is also preparing to launch a new Master of Engineering (MEng) program in Robotics and Embodied AI, led by Prof. SHEN Yajing, Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Associate Director of the CKSRI. The program will be jointly offered by the Departments of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Students will complete their first year of studies at HKUST, followed by a one-year internship that allows them to apply their learning in real-world contexts. Students' admission is expected to begin in 2026, with the first cohort commencing in Fall 2027.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university known for its innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 6th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th globally and 1st in Hong Kong in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings 2025. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, HKUST’s Computer Science discipline which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, has been ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for ten consecutive years. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of the Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of May 2026, HKUST members have founded over 1,900 active start-ups, including 11 Unicorns and 22 exits (IPO or M&A).
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