Inauguration Ceremony Address on New Institute (Excerpt)

Dear Party Secretary Ma, Mayor Xu, distinguished academicians, officials and friends,

First of all, please allow me to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all of you for participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing (“Institute”).

The Institute has several significant meanings.

First of all, the level of robotics research and development is an important measure to gauge a nation’s manufacturing capability, and “robotics is a crown jewelry of the manufacturing industry”, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out. Robotics is also the core of Industry 4.0, i.e. the automation and intelligence of the manufacturing industry. Robotics in Shenzhen is particularly significant as the city has become the world manufacturing center.

Next, robotics is not only a solution to dilemmas facing the manufacturing industry, but also its object and product. Robotics technology prevalent in households will bring about innumerable new products to enterprises in Shenzhen and benefit industrial upgrades.

Finally, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (“University”) is committing to evolve into a world research university, and the Institute is but our first one. We will establish more institutes to provide a first class scientific research platform and serve as a talent hub to the University.

The Institute is an inheritance from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (“CUHK”) Advanced Robotics Laboratory established in 1997, which has been deemed as one of the world’s most dynamic robotics research teams and has undertaken multiple nationally and globally significant projects. Dozens of robotics and intelligent systems have been developed around space robots, service robots, industrial robots, special robots, medical robots and intelligent vehicles. Our prospect is promising as we have amassed adequate technology and talent in line with the macro environment of the manufacturing industry and various innovative startups at Shenzhen.

In future, we are committed to:

1. Engaging in further research on generic technologies of intelligent manufacturing and robotics in conjunction with national and international research bodies in response to national innovation-driven strategy and Shenzhen’s urgent need to develop future industries based on the University’s national key laboratory and research teams.

2. Introducing world renowned experts on robotics and intelligent manufacturing to contribute to the talent buildup in Shenzhen and throughout the nation.

3. Forming a world class innovative entrepreneurship platform and serving as a national level technology enterprise incubator to boost the commercialization of technological achievements in robotics and intelligent manufacturing, upgrading local industries.

We meet on this coldest day in Shenzhen’s history. We not only witness the emergence of a new institute, but also kindle a fire of the robotics industry in Shenzhen. I often tell my students that we are a tinder today, but we will light up the sky tomorrow. Let’s join our hands and usher in the new robotics age.