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HKUST and BYD Establish Joint Laboratory to Pioneer Embodied Intelligence

2025-07-07
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Group Photo

A group photo of BYD Group Chairman and President Mr. WANG Chuanfu (fourth left), HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM (third left), Vice President of BYD Mr. LUO Zhongliang (second left) , HKUST Vice-President for Research & Development Prof. Tim CHENG (fourth right), HKUST Von Neumann Institute Associate Director Prof. TAN Ping (third right), and other guests from BYD and HKUST.

Witnessed by Prof. Harry SHUM (back row, second left), Mr. WANG Chuanfu (back row, second right), HKUST Provost Prof. GUO Yike (back row, first left) and BYD Vice President Ms. LI Wei (back row, first right), Prof. Tim CHENG (front left) and Mr. LUO Zhongliang (front right) sign the agreement.

Witnessed by Prof. Harry SHUM (back row, second left), Mr. WANG Chuanfu (back row, second right), HKUST Provost Prof. GUO Yike (back row, first left) and BYD Vice President Ms. LI Wei (back row, first right), Prof. Tim CHENG (front left) and Mr. LUO Zhongliang (front right) sign the agreement.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and BYD Auto Industry Company Limited (BYD) launched the HKUST-BYD Embodied Al Joint Lab. This collaboration aims to accelerate innovation and industrial applications in robotics and smart manufacturing, injecting new momentum into global scientific advancement and industrial transformation.

The agreement was signed by HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development Prof. Tim CHENG and BYD Vice President Mr. LUO Zhongliang, witnessed by HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM and BYD Group Chairman and President Mr. WANG Chuanfu.  

Located on the HKUST campus, the laboratory will be co-managed through a Scientific Advisory Committee responsible for setting strategic directions to ensure the research outcomes deliver academic impact and industrial value. Prof. TAN Ping from HKUST’s Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and the Associate Director of the HKUST Von Neumann Research Institute, will serve as the Director of the Joint Laboratory.

BYD will invest several million Hong Kong dollars over the next few years to support the operation of the laboratory, which will integrate HKUST's expertise in AI and robotics with BYD’s industrial capabilities, with a specific focus on embodied intelligence (EI).

The two parties will explore data-driven EI research, covering efficient data collection methods as well as the training for large models in operation and navigation. The team will develop novel solutions for data collection applicable to both simulated and real-world environments with an aim to reducing the cost of data acquisition. The collected data will be used to train large models of EI, enabling robots to autonomously complete multiple tasks in home or factory settings. Both parties will also collaborate on autonomous driving initiatives to enhance the safety and reliability of high-level autonomous driving technology.

Exploring the Future of Embodied Intelligence

Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Group, stated, "In recent years, the development of China's manufacturing sector has been remarkable, with significant improvements in both efficiency and creativity. The trajectory of China's manufacturing industry has evolved from scale expansion to quality enhancement. In the early stages, we rapidly expanded our scale by leveraging low-cost and high-efficiency advantages. Today, we must propel Chinese manufacturing to new heights driven by innovation and high-quality development."

He added, "At BYD, we deeply recognize that sustaining industrial advancement requires continuous breakthroughs in technology and foundational R&D. This is precisely why our strategic partnership with HKUST holds such importance. Last year, we recruited over 100 outstanding graduates from HKUST, with master's degree holders accounting for 80% and PhDs making up 20%. These high-caliber talents from HKUST have injected strong momentum into BYD's growth. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to HKUST’s leadership for their commitment to talent development and for cultivating so many exceptional professionals for the industry."

Speaking on the future of China's manufacturing sector and the establishment of the Embodied Intelligence Joint Laboratory with HKUST, he emphasized, "Looking ahead, for China's manufacturing industry to achieve new leaps, we must persistently strengthen innovation in foundational technologies. BYD looks forward to deepening collaboration with HKUST in core technology R&D and innovative talent cultivation, jointly advancing Chinese manufacturing toward the high end of the global value chain and contributing to high-quality development."

Prof. Harry Shum, Chairman of HKUST Council, expressed appreciation for BYD’s support and highlighted the significance of the collaboration. He said, "I have long hoped for HKUST to deepen exchanges with outstanding enterprises like BYD—firmly rooted in China while leading globally—so that we may learn from each other and progress together. BYD is a paragon of China's technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, and today, it stands as a global benchmark in high-tech automotive manufacturing. As technological transformation and artificial intelligence profoundly reshape the world, this partnership will enable both sides to fully leverage their research and innovation strengths, embrace local and global trends, and shape transformative strategic opportunities."

Prof. Tim Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development at HKUST, introduced the university's core research facilities to the BYD delegation led by Mr. Wang, including State Key Laboratories, National Engineering Research Centers, and over 20 specialized research institutes dedicated to cutting-edge technological development for national and industrial advancement. He noted: "Embodied intelligence represents the next milestone in AI evolution. By integrating advanced algorithms with robotics, next-generation systems will gain the ability to actively perceive, comprehend, and interact with the physical world - reshaping humanity's future landscape. This collaboration combines HKUST's research excellence in AI and robotics with BYD's industry leadership, accelerating breakthroughs in critical technologies. We aim to establish the HKUST-BYD Joint Laboratory as a core engine driving robotic innovation and smart manufacturing transformation."

BYD, a global leader in electric vehicles and power batteries, has been actively expanding its international footprint in recent years. Meanwhile, HKUST is renowned for its expertise in AI and robotics technology.  Over the years, both institutions have fostered a strong partnership through student exchange programs, enabling HKUST students to visit BYD, gain hands-on exposure to industry innovations and emerging trends.  
 

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 that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, 19th Worldwide and No.1 in Hong Kong in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings. Thirteen HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” holding the 17th place, maintaining its position as first in Hong Kong. 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 latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of May 2025, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 17 exits (IPO or M&A)

About BYD Auto Industry Company Limited

BYD was established on November 18, 1994, headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Its business spans four major industries, i.e., automobile, electronics, renewable energy, and rail transit. It is among the Fortune 500 companies, and listed both on Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. As of now, BYD has applied for more than 62 thousand patents, and obtained more than 37 thousand authorized patents worldwide. With more than 120,000 R&D engineers, BYD has the largest R&D team among global automakers, continuously leading development through technological innovation. In the first quarter of 2025, BYD’s revenue reached CNY 170.4 billion, a 36% year-on-year increase. BYD shoulders the responsibilities and duties of the era, firmly embraces the tides of automobile electrification and intelligence, and establishes itself as the leader of new energy vehicles in China and the world, as to pave a road of green innovation and development.As the world's largest new energy vehicle enterprise, BYD has mastered the core technologies for the whole industry chain of new energy vehicles in terms of battery, motors, and controllers. Carving a path from independent innovation to all-round and open-minded innovation, BYD keeps leading the accelerated global reform of new energy vehicles. Through years of strenuous efforts, BYD has seized unprecedented growth opportunities with its groundbreaking technologies like Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid Platform, Super e-Platform, e4 Platform, DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, BYD Intelligent Architecture, and DiPilot System. In 2024, BYD delivered 4,270,000 new energy vehicles, with a year-on-year surge of 41%, and won the global new energy vehicle sales championship. From January to June of this year, BYD accumulatively delivered 2,150,000 new energy vehicles, with a year-on-year growth of 33%, further strengthening its global market dominance. The operating footprints of BYD new energy vehicles have covered more than 400 cities in more than 100 countries and regions around the world, continuously providing green technologies and products to global consumers.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Anita Lam    

Tel: 2358 6313

Email: anitalam@ust.hk

 

Gloria Tang

Tel: 2358 6306

Email: gloriatang@ust.hk 

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