Robotics is an interdisciplinary engineering subject with numerous applications in manufacturing industries, services, health care, space, etc. Robotics technology is widely considered as the technology, next to the Internet technology, that can change the world and human life. China, USA, Japan and EU have all identified robotics technology as one of the most important technologies to be developed in next twenty years for their economic growth and technology competitiveness. In Hong Kong, the SAR government is also strongly boosting innovation and technology development by investing recently $2 billion to support the middle-stream research in which robotics is one of the focuses.

The CUHK Robotics Institute was established in October, 2015, as one of the strategic initiatives of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with the strong support from the University and the Vice-Chancellor and with the generous donation from T Stone Group Limited, a company specializing in technology investment with strong wishes and commitment to contributing to local education and academic research. The missions of the Institute are: 

• To contribute globally to knowledge and technology advancement  in robotics and automation, and to play leading roles in the areas that fit the needs and strengths of Hong Kong;

• To nurture Hong Kong’s technology and innovation talent base by research and education; 

• To promote technology transfer in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

We have identified two primary research areas: medical robots and service robots, which meet the needs of Hong Kong and the Mainland and enhance the existing strength of CUHK. With the expansion of robot applications from manufacturing industries to other sectors such as medicine and service, the technology cannot be developed by engineers only. Collaboration with medical experts, social workers, and psychologists becomes very important. The Institute provides a platform for experts in engineering, medicine and social science at CUHK to collaborate. 

The Institute has received strong support form the University in terms of faculty positons, funding, and space. In addition to the laboratories on the main campus, we also have facilities at the CHUK Shenzhen Research Institute. The presence in Shenzhen will enable us to contribute to the robotics research and development of the Mainland and to facilitate our collaboration with the Mainland institutions and industries.

We strive to develop cutting-edge technologies in robotics and to become a global leader in the special robotics areas that fit our strengths and the local needs.