BYD has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to jointly establish the HKUST–BYD Joint Laboratory for Embodied Intelligence.
On July 5, BYD and HKUST formalized a strategic partnership to launch the HKUST–BYD Joint Laboratory for Embodied Intelligence, focusing on cutting-edge research in embodied AI, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing.
Located on the HKUST campus, the lab will be led by Professor Tan Ping from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and guided by a scientific advisory board to define its long-term research agenda. Over the coming years, BYD will invest tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars to support research initiatives and platform development.
The collaboration will leverage HKUST’s foundational expertise in artificial intelligence and robotics, in tandem with BYD’s comprehensive experience in industrial integration and product engineering, to jointly tackle challenges in high-efficiency data collection, large-scale model training for manipulation and navigation, and autonomous driving algorithms.
A core objective of the partnership is to deploy embodied intelligence technologies in real-world scenarios—enabling robotic systems to autonomously perceive and operate within complex physical environments. Target applications include intelligent services and human-robot collaboration in future household and industrial settings.
This initiative is not BYD’s first foray into embodied intelligence. By the end of 2024, the company’s 15th Business Division had already assembled a dedicated R&D team for the project, directly overseen by division head Luo Zhongliang. BYD has also launched a targeted recruitment drive for the class of 2025, seeking global master’s and PhD graduates to join its embodied intelligence unit in roles spanning algorithm development, structural engineering, and simulation—across areas like humanoid and bipedal robots.
The move aligns with BYD’s long-term strategic vision, encapsulated in its forward-looking framework: “Electrification in the first half, intelligence in the second.” Cross-disciplinary partnerships with leading academic institutions like HKUST serve as a cornerstone of this vision. The joint lab not only accelerates breakthroughs in key technologies but also marks a shift toward a new model of innovation—powered by research leadership, industrial execution, and global talent development.
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