CUHK
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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and  Tongji University held an inauguration ceremony and signed a cooperation agreement yesterday (8 April) for the “CUHK-Tongji University Joint Research Laboratory for Smart Transportation”. Through the laboratory, the two universities will jointly promote research and development in priority fields and key technologies, and carry out collaboration in areas such as innovative talent development, in response to major societal needs in the field of smart transportation. CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming led a delegation to the ceremony at Tongji University, including Professor Tsang Hon-ki, Dean of Engineering, and Professor Chen Benmei, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Representatives from Tongji University included President Academician Yang Jinlong and Vice President Professor Li Xiangning.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Professor Lo said: “The national 15th Five-Year Plan is an action blueprint for the new stage of development over the next five years. It emphasises the leading role of scientific and technological innovation, accelerating high-level self-reliance and strength in technology, and advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation. The establishment of the joint laboratory by CUHK and Tongji University will leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions in smart transportation and intelligent unmanned systems. It will provide collaboration opportunities for scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world, fully harness collective research capabilities, cultivate innovation in smart transportation technologies, and drive frontier breakthroughs and innovative applications.”

President Yang expressed his hope that the two universities would capitalise on their respective strengths to deepen cooperation in talent cultivation, scientific research and platform development. He also emphasised the shared goal of jointly building a smart transportation innovation hub with international influence, contributing wisdom and strength to address major challenges in the transportation sector and advance industry development.

CUHK has long attached great importance to building close partnerships with institutions in the Chinese Mainland, promoting diversified collaboration and integrating into national development while leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages. The Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at CUHK maintains close collaboration with Tongji University in smart transportation and unmanned systems. A jointly developed amphibious unmanned system capable of operating in both air and water has attracted widespread attention domestically and internationally, and successfully supported China’s Antarctic research mission in February 2026. In addition, a joint CUHK and Tongji University team stood out at the 16th International Micro Air Vehicle Competition (IMAV 2025) in Mexico last year, outperforming more than 10 other elite teams – including from Europe and the US – to win championships in both the indoor and outdoor categories.