HUTB and Unitree Robotics Sign Agreement to Jointly Establish Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute
2025-07-24
On the afternoon of July 23, the work advancement meeting and signing and unveiling ceremony for the joint establishment of the Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute by HUTB, Xiangjiang Laboratory, and Unitree Robotics were held in the Zhiyuan Lecture Hall of Xiangjiang Building. Attending the meeting were Academician Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee and Director of the Xiangjiang Laboratory; Chen Li, Co-founder of Unitree Robotics; Liu Guoquan, Executive Deputy Director of the Xiangjiang Laboratory; Hu Chunhua, Deputy Director of the Xiangjiang Laboratory; Chang Ruichun, Regional Sales Director of Unitree Robotics; Li Hang, Deputy Head of R&D and AGI Lead; and Jin Hui, Director of Ecological Cooperation, among others.
Academician Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee and Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, delivered a speech at the meeting. She introduced that the Xiangjiang Laboratory is a major scientific and technological initiative deployed by the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Government of Hunan Province, and the first provincial laboratory unveiled in Hunan. Over the three years since its establishment, it has consistently focused on the frontiers of artificial intelligence and advanced computing technology. It has carried out the "AI+" initiative around core elements such as data, algorithms, computing power, and computing networks, and has successively released 24 scientific and technological innovation products labeled "Xiangjiang No. 1" to "Xiangjiang No. 24" in fields including AI pre-trained large models, embodied (humanoid) intelligent robots, intelligent agents, and brain-like intelligence. As the sole or primary unit, it has applied for over 260 national invention patents and been granted more than 160, and was selected as one of Hunan Province's first batch of scientific research institution intellectual property centers. The Xiangjiang Laboratory has empowered HUTB in the integrated reform of education, technology, and talent mechanisms, the construction of "new engineering courses," and the interdisciplinary integration and transformation of disciplines and majors. The university's enrollment and employment efforts have consistently ranked among the top in provincial higher education institutions for many years.
Academician Chen Xiaohong stated that Unitree Robotics is a benchmark enterprise in the global field of embodied intelligent robotics. She expressed hope that, building on the foundation of previous close collaboration, both parties would leverage this pioneering cooperative model of jointly establishing the Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute. By fully utilizing their respective strengths, combining resources, and collaborating on tackling core challenges in the field, they will jointly cultivate high-quality interdisciplinary talent in robotics and AI for the future, continuously promote the deep integration of industry, education, research, and application, and together write a new chapter in which intelligent robots empower all industries. This effort will contribute greater strength to building a national hub for advanced manufacturing and an innovation ecosystem for artificial intelligence.
Chen Li, Co-founder of Unitree Robotics, on behalf of all employees, extended warm congratulations on the joint establishment of the Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute by both parties. He introduced that over the nine years since its establishment, Unitree Robotics has consistently focused on the development, in-house research, and product layout in three major areas: robotics platforms, motion control, and perception, setting a benchmark for the industry and occupying a leading position in the global field of embodied intelligent robotics. He stated that embodied intelligent robotics platforms require the infusion of more "intelligence." Unitree Robotics has had a foundation of collaboration with the Xiangjiang Laboratory and HUTB for many years. The Xiangjiang Laboratory possesses strong research capabilities in the fields of artificial intelligence and advanced computing, while HUTB has achieved significant results in the cultivation of artificial intelligence talent. Further deepening cooperation between the two parties is bound to yield even more fruitful outcomes. This joint establishment of the Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute also represents a new exploratory practice in Unitree Robotics' external collaborations. He expressed hope that, together with the Xiangjiang Laboratory, an innovation chain and industrial ecosystem for embodied intelligent robotics can be built in the central region, promoting the empowerment of all industries and households by embodied intelligence, and making new contributions to the high-quality development of the national and regional economy and society.
Subsequently, both parties formally signed the agreement for the joint establishment of the Embodied Intelligent Robotics Technology and Application Innovation Research Institute and unveiled the plaque to mark its establishment. Warm applause erupted on the scene. Participants engaged in discussions and made plans and deployments regarding the preparation and support for the innovation research institute and the next steps in its work.
After the meeting, the Unitree Robotics delegation conducted on-site visits to the Xiangjiang Laboratory's innovation platforms in intelligent manufacturing, industrial intelligent control, artificial intelligence, brain-like intelligence, intelligent robotics, smart society, low-altitude economy, and smart logistics. They inspected the research and application outcomes of embodied (humanoid) intelligent robots and highly praised the strong research capabilities and outstanding innovative achievements of HUTB and the Xiangjiang Laboratory.
(Written by Zhang Gaoyang and photo by Ling Haotian)
