International Robotics Industry-Education Integration Innovation Forum was Successfully Held

On the afternoon of October 18th, the International Robotics Industry-Education Integration Innovation Conference was successfully held at Hangzhou Qingshanhu Sci-Tech City. The conference was jointly hosted by the International Alliance of Robotics Associations (IARA) and the Hangzhou International Nongovernmental Science & Technology Exchange Center under the guidance of the Hangzhou Science and Technology Association. The event established a high-level dialogue platform for the global robotics industry and education sector to promote technological integration, industry-education collaboration, and international convergence, thereby facilitating positive interaction and collaborative advancement between the robotics industry and education.

Distinguished guests and leaders from relevant departments and international robotics organizations in attendance included: Zhang Libin, Former President of Zhejiang University of Technology and Chairman of IARA, Che Jiong, President of Zhejiang Highway Technician College, Hu Zhouying, Deputy Director of the Hangzhou International Nongovernmental Science & Technology Exchange Center, Wu Chengkun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Mergers and Acquisitions Working Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of Investment, Zhang Xuequn, Deputy Secretary-General of IARA, Jyrki Latokartano, President of the Robotics Society in Finland and Vice Chairman of IARA, Oliver Tian, Honorary Advisor of the Asia Pacific Assistive Robotics Association (APARA) and Vice Chairman of IARA, Alex Dantas, Founder of CircuitLaunch, Bikash Gurung, President of the Robotics Association of Nepal, Tawee Pawanakorn, International Department Director of the Thai Automation and Robotics Association, and Mohd Yusuri Yusof, Executive Director of the Kedah Industrial Skills and Management Development Centre (KISMEC). Nearly one hundred representatives from universities, research institutes, industry associations, and enterprises participated in the event. Innovative pathways and collaboration mechanisms for industry-education integration in robotics were explored, injecting new momentum into promoting high-quality development of the global robotics industry and education.

The opening ceremony was chaired Zhang Xuequn, Deputy Secretary-General of the IARA. Addresses were delivered by Zhang Libin, Chairman of IARA, and Zhang Lidong, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the Industry-Education Integration Working Committee of China Education Association of Machinery Industry. Che Jiong, Rotating Vice Chairman of the International Robotics Industry-Education Integration Innovation Center and President of Zhejiang Highway Technician College, presented the work report on behalf of the Center.

At the conference, the “International Robotics Talent Cultivation Cooperation Memorandum” was formally signed. The IARA, Hangzhou Automation Technology Institute (HATI), and multiple universities and enterprises jointly signed the cooperation document. This marks a commitment from industry, academia, and research representatives to deeply explore new mechanisms for cultivating innovative talent through enterprise-university collaboration and to jointly build an open and collaborative international ecosystem for robotics talent development.

During the keynote session, multiple senior international experts shared cutting-edge concepts and valuable practical experiences from their respective countries in robotics education, industry-education integration and technology application.

Jyrki Latokartano, President of the Robotics Society in Finland, delivered a speech titled “Industrial Robotics Education in Finland”. 

Bikash Gurung, President of the Robotics Association of Nepal, shared “Frontier Technologies Integrating Robotics with Industry in Nepal”.

Alex Dantas, Founder of CircuitLaunch and Representative of Silicon Valley Robotics, presented “The Exploration Path of Industry-Education Integration in Silicon Valley, USA”.

Mao Gang, Vice President of Zhejiang Highway Technician College, delivered a report titled “Reflections on Empowering High-Quality Development of Education with Robotics”.

Timur Abdullaev, President of the Euro-Asian AI and Robotics Association, contributed with “Robotic Technology in Russia”.

Mohd Yusuri Yusof, Executive Director of KISMEC, gave a keynote speech on “Vocational and Technical Education and Training in Malaysia.”

The following panel discussion was chaired by Oliver Tian, Honorary Advisor of APARA and Vice Chairman of IARA. Four distinguished panelists participated in the discussion, they are Jyrki Latokartano, President of the Robotics Society in Finland, Mohd Yusuri Yusof, Executive Director of KISMEC, Wang Zhenhuan, Executive Dean of the Institute of Precision Measurement and Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, China Jiliang University, and Huang Pengcheng, Vice Dean of the School of Intelligent Manufacturing, Jinhua University of Vocational Technology. From an internationally forward-looking perspective, the discussion was focused on key issues including strategic exploration for global robotics industry-education integration innovation, and innovative design and commercial practices targeting the service robot market. The in-depth exchange of ideas provided valuable insights and feasible pathways for building an engine to support the sustainable development of the global robotics industry.