The University of Macau (UM) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have recently established the first jointly funded laboratory between Macau and Hong Kong — the Joint Laboratory of Robotics and Embodied Intelligence — and simultaneously launched a dual doctoral degree programme for joint PhD student training. This groundbreaking collaboration not only marks a new breakthrough in scientific research and talent cultivation between the two regions, but also serves as a significant recognition and affirmation of UM’s long-term dedication and outstanding achievements in the field of robotics. At the same time, the University’s research has entered a new phase, with its recent accomplishments in micro/nano robotics technology gaining international acclaim, firmly placing its research capabilities among the world’s top tier.

According to the annual academic performance statistics from two major international authoritative databases, Scopus and Web of Science, UM has demonstrated strong competitiveness in the fields of micro/nano robotics and micro/nano manipulation, publishing over 90 high-level research papers. This places UM among the top institutions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, within the first tier in China, and in the global top 50. In the core specialized area of micro/nano positioning and micro-grippers, UM has shown the strength of a “dominant champion,” fully reflecting its core research capabilities and world-class academic influence in the field of micro-robotics.

In addition to its advantage in the quantity of papers, UM has also achieved fruitful results in the publication of high-quality papers. In the field of micro/nano robotics, UM has published three papers in Science Robotics and eight papers in IEEE Transactions on Robotics, demonstrating its research capacity to consistently contribute original achievements in top-tier platforms.

In recent years, UM has continuously strengthened its foundation in robotics research and actively supported the collaborative development of robotics science and the cultivation of high-end talent in the Greater Bay Area. Relying on platforms such as the Faculty of Science and Technology, the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, and the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, UM has assembled a high-level research team. It has made continuous progress in theoretical exploration, technological innovation, and practical application, with research outcomes widely applied in fields such as intelligent manufacturing, precision medicine, and autonomous driving. In the latest international authoritative statistics, UM has performed excellently in several sub-fields, including micro/nano robotics, micro-manipulation, and micro/nano positioning, further establishing its position as a top-tier research institution in the global robotics academic community, particularly in the field of micro/nano robotics.

These research achievements reflect UM’s long-term dedication and strategic布局 (layout) in the field of micro/nano robotics. In the future, UM will continue to leverage the scientific and technological development advantages of the Greater Bay Area, deepen core technology research, consolidate and expand its globally leading research status, and contribute “UM Wisdom” to promoting innovation and industrial development in micro/nano robotics technology for the Greater Bay Area and the world.

The University of Macau (UM) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed an agreement today (12 February) at UM to establish the first joint laboratory co-funded by Macao and Hong Kong—the Joint Laboratory for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence. The initiative aims to strengthen collaborative innovation in higher education and scientific research in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. In addition, UM and PolyU announced the launch of a dual PhD programme featuring joint supervision by faculty members from both universities, marking a significant step forward in collaboration on frontier technologies and high-level talent development. The joint PhD programme is now open for applications.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM, said that the Joint Laboratory for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence brings together UM’s strengths in interdisciplinary research, artificial intelligence, and engineering with PolyU’s expertise in applied science and engineering practice. The laboratory will advance fundamental research and promote technology transfer in cutting-edge fields such as intelligent robotics and embodied artificial intelligence. In addition to building on the two universities’ long-standing research collaboration, the laboratory will serve as a strategic platform for cultivating high-quality innovative talent. Song added that the four-year dual PhD programme features joint supervision by faculty members from both institutions. Students will have the opportunity to study and conduct research in both Macao and Hong Kong and will receive doctoral degrees from both universities upon graduation. The initiative aims to synergise the disciplinary and technological strengths of both institutions and establish an internationally competitive doctoral training model for the Greater Bay Area, thereby supporting China’s high-quality development and the development of world-class research hubs.

Teng Jin-Guang, president of PolyU, said that the launch of the laboratory—the first joint laboratory co-funded by Hong Kong and Macao—and the dual PhD programme reflects the shared vision of UM and PolyU to advance frontier innovation in robotics and embodied intelligence, strengthen cross-border research collaboration, and nurture high-calibre talent for the development of the Greater Bay Area. He noted that these initiatives not only respond to regional development priorities but also align with the country’s long‑term goals of advancing technological innovation and socio‑economic progress. He added that PolyU, as an innovative world‑class university, has decades of experience in translating research outcomes into real‑world applications. The initiatives provide a significant platform for collaboration, enabling interdisciplinary teams from both universities to conduct impactful research, address challenges in transformative technologies, and accelerate the translation of research results for the benefit of Hong Kong, Macao, and the country as a whole.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Song; Teng; Ge Wei, vice rector of UM; and Christopher Chao, senior vice president (Research and Innovation) of PolyU. Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), and Chen Wen-Hua, interim head of PolyU’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, signed the ‘Joint Laboratory Cooperation Agreement’. Wong Pak Kin, dean of UM’s Graduate School, and Wang Zuankai, associate vice president (Research) and dean of the Graduate School at PolyU, signed the ‘Dual PhD Degree Programme Agreement’. Following the signing ceremony, the joint laboratory was formally inaugurated. Faculty members from both universities then presented their initial collaborative projects and toured the laboratory facilities.

For more information about the dual PhD programme, please visit the website of UM’s FST: https://www.fst.um.edu.mo/event/dual-doctoral-degree-programme-in-robotics-and-embodied-intelligence/. For enquiries, please contact the FST office (email: fst.enquiry@um.edu.mo; phone: +853 8822 4963).