Hopebotics Founder Prof. Raymond Tong Visits Tianjin University for Academic Exchange on Biomedical Engineering Collaboration

Tianjin, May 6, 2024 — Prof. Raymond Tong, Founding Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and founder of Hopebotics, recently led a delegation to Tianjin University (TJU) School of Medicine for in-depth discussions on academic collaboration, research innovation, and talent development in biomedical engineering. The delegation was received by Prof. Dong Ming, Executive Vice President of Tianjin University and Executive Director of the Medical Division, along with Prof. Liang Wan, Vice Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Qiu-Jun Fan, Assistant Dean, and Dr. Xi-Zi Song, a young faculty representative. Prof. Xiu-Yun Liu, Deputy Director of the Medical Division and Dean of the School of Pharmacy, also attended the meeting.

​​Exploring Synergies in Biomedical Engineering​​

During the meeting, Prof. Ming introduced TJU's recent advancements in medical disciplines and its strategic interdisciplinary initiatives. He commended the outstanding achievements of CUHK's Department of Biomedical Engineering since its establishment in 2017, as well as Hopebotics' pioneering contributions to intelligent medical robotics and rehabilitation engineering.

Prof. Tong highlighted the existing collaborative research between CUHK and Dr. Song's team at TJU and shared insights into Hopebotics' innovations in smart rehabilitation devices and precision medicine. He emphasized the strong alignment between TJU's biomedical engineering expertise and CUHK's research focus, proposing deeper collaboration in joint student training, translational research, and shared research infrastructure to foster complementary strengths.

​​Building a Comprehensive Collaboration Framework​​

Prof. Wan outlined the School of Medicine's internationalization strategy and research achievements, suggesting enhanced student exchanges through winter/summer programs, faculty visits, joint grant applications, and shared laboratory platforms. She advocated for a holistic partnership model encompassing student exchanges, joint faculty research, and shared innovation platforms to cultivate high-caliber interdisciplinary talent.

Prof. Tong provided an overview of CUHK's research in neural engineering and medical robotics, noting TJU's unique advantages in clinical-engineering integration. Both sides engaged in substantive discussions on formalizing collaboration agreements and launching summer research initiatives.

​​Strengthening Ties Through Campus Tour​​

Prior to the meeting, Prof. Fan guided the delegation through TJU's "Path to Medical Excellence" exhibition hall, showcasing the university's medical education evolution and translational research milestones. Prof. Tong expressed admiration for TJU's interdisciplinary vision and underscored the potential of integrating Hopebotics' industry expertise with academic research to accelerate clinical adoption of innovative technologies.

This visit marks a new chapter in the partnership between Tianjin University, CUHK, and Hopebotics, with a shared commitment to advancing biomedical engineering research, talent development, and industrial innovation on a global scale.