Finland Delegation of Robotics Education and Industry Visited Zhejiang Province

In May 2023, a robotics education and industry group from Finland visited Zhejiang Province. The members included Dr. Mika Klementtinen, Consul for Trade and Innovation at the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai and Director of the Finnish National Agency for Business Promotion in Shanghai, Dr. Pia Kristiina Karumaa, Chief Scientist, and Dr. Kimmo Juhani Vänni, Director of the Wearable Robotics Lab, from Haimen University of Applied Sciences (HAMK); Asko Aulis Mononen, Director of the Digital Life Laboratory, Dr. Teppo Aleksi Leppalahti, Principal Research Scientist, Jaakko Oskari Vesterinen, Senior Lecturer, and four undergraduates from Laurea University of Applied Sciences (LAUREA); and Janne Pylvas, Managing Director of Myontech Wearables, Inc. Their visit was accompanied by Ms. Wendy Cheng, Vice-chair of the Investment Committee of IARA.

Mr. XU Chi, Executive Director of IARAC, IARA's headquarters operating company and Mr. WANG Guoyao, Executive Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Robot Industry Association (ZRIA), hosted a welcome dinner on the evening of May 14.

1. Industry-University-Research Exchange Meeting: Sports Rehabilitation for Healthy Life

On the morning of May 15, the group participated in the Industry-University-Research Exchange Meeting: Sports Rehabilitation for Healthy Life, which was jointly organized by the Institute of Precision Engineering and Micro-Nano Technology of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Kuntai Robotics Company Limited and Xiaoshan Robot Town. The event aimed to strengthen the cooperation with innovative medical technology industries in Northern Europe and other places, to understand the digital medical innovation industry, and to promote the high-quality development of the medical industry. During the event, Prof. JU Bingfeng, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Mr. WANG Tao, General Manager of Lishui Hi-Tech Industrial Investment Co., Ltd, and Dr. Mika Klementtinen delivered speeches. Dr. ZHANG Xuequn, Deputy Secretary-General of IARA, Mr. HAN Yi, General Manager of Nanjing Zheli Intelligent Manufacturing Research Institute Co., Ltd, and Prof. LIU Tao, Director of the Precision Engineering and Micro-Nano Technology Institute of Zhejiang University, attended the event.

2. Round Table Meeting between Finland and China on Robotics Industry

On the afternoon of May 15, the Round Table Meeting between Finland and China on Robotics Industry was successfully held in Xiaoshan Robot Town. The meeting aimed at strengthening the development and cooperation with the Nordic in the fields of medical rehabilitation, sport health, industry and agriculture. Mr. XU Chi, Executive Chairman of ZRIA and Executive Director of IARAC, Mr. TANG Jun, Head of Xiaoshan Robot Town, Mr. WANG Guoyao, Executive Vice Chairman of ZRIA, Dr. ZHANG Xuequn, Deputy Secretary-General of IARA, Mr. PEI Xiang, President of Hangzhou Guochen Robotics Science & Technology Co., Mr. CHEN Ran, Hangzhou Robotpheonix Intelligent Manufacturing Co., Ltd, A/Prof. WANG Hongcheng and Dr. XI Ruru from Hangzhou Dianzi University participated in the event with the Finland Delegation.

Participants first visited Xiaoshan Robot Town Exhibition Center. The robots demonstrated in the exhibition hall, such as welcoming, cognitive rehabilitation, intelligent companion, inspection, fire-fighting, curling and drawing robots gained the unanimous praise of the Finnish Delegation.

After the visit, the meeting was held in the conference room of the Exhibition Center. Dr. ZHANG Xuequn introduced the history, structure and mission of IARA and expressed his heartfelt thanks to ZRIA and Xiaoshan Robot Town for hosting this event.

Mr. XU Chi gave a warm welcome to the Finnish delegation and expressed high expectations for in-depth cooperation between China and Finland robotics industry in the future. He suggested that the development and growth of the robotics industry could not be separated from international exchanges and cooperation.

Janne Pylvas gave a detailed presentation on the functionality and application areas of wearable products based on EMG signal acquisition and analysis, and together with Dr. Kimmo Juhani Vänni, demonstrated a flexible exoskeleton assistive robot based on products from Myontec.

A/Prof. WANG Hongcheng demonstrated a number of practical robotic products developed by his group for agriculture, industry, and medicine applications.

Participates had a warm and in-depth discussion on the latest technology, application demand, market potential, education in the fields of medical rehabilitation, sports health, industry, agriculture, intelligent service and other robotic applications, exchanged experiences and views, and put forward specific ideas for cooperation between the two sides.

Participants agreed to continue exchanges after the event on the technology, market information and needs of robots in healthcare, industry and education, and to promote international cooperation in the robotics industry in terms of technological development, product R&D, and market development.

3. 2023 China (Huangyan) International Robotic Application Summit

On May 19^th, the Finnish Delegation attended the 2023 China (Huangyan) International Robotic Application Summit. Mr. HU Jianzhong, Vice Director of Huangyan District, Taizhou, attended the conference and delivered a speech. Dr. ZHANG Xuequn and Prof. Asko Aulis Mononen also gave keynotes.

HAMK, LAUREA, Taizhou University, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Hospital), Taizhou Mintai Robotics Co., Ltd. signed a MOU on the construction of the Nordic (Zhejiang) Medical Rehabilitation Robot Research and Application Center. HAMK, Taizhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Taizhou Mintai Robotics Co., Ltd. signed a contract for the construction of Finland-Taizhou Robotics Collaborative Innovation Center. IARA and Taizhou Vocational College of Science and Technology carried out the revealing ceremony of the IARA China (Zhejiang) International UAV Talent Training Base (in Preparation).

Dr. Kimmo Juhani Vänni, Mr. QU Weixin, Secretary General of Suzhou Robot Industry Association, Prof. Dong Comixu from School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Mr. ZHOU Xiaofan, Director of Advanced Technology R&D Center of Zhejiang Qianjiang Robotics Co., Ltd, Mr. WANG Kun, Senior Vice President of Nanjing Avatar Robotics Co., Ltd, and Mr. Ramin Amiri, President of Zhejiang Parstronic Automotive Control Systems Co., Ltd. gave presentation on industry robots, service robots, smart vehicle and key component.