HK Media's Jiangsu Tour: Suzhou Powers Up - Breakthroughs in Robotics, Smart Manufacturing & Tech Incubation

The Hong Kong media delegation visited the Suzhou Embodied AI Robot Comprehensive Innovation Center, Ecovacs Robotics Co., Ltd., and the AI Tech Center in Suzhou International Science Park (SISPARK) from March 28 to 29, gaining a first-hand understanding of Suzhou's latest advancements in robotics R&D, smart manufacturing, and technology incubation.

The Hong Kong media delegation gained a first-hand understanding of Suzhou's latest advancements in robotics R&D, smart manufacturing, and technology incubation. Photo by Bastille Post

Free Resources for the First Six Months, Equity Investment up to 3 Million RMB for the Located Corporations

Officially launched on July 1 last year, the Suzhou Embodied AI Robot Comprehensive Innovation Center features 5,200 square meters of training space covering ten real-world application scenarios across home, commercial, and industrial settings. Up to now, 15 corporations have been located in, with over one million high-quality data samples collected. The center also provides a range of robotic bodies, including humanoid, quadrupedal, and robotic arm models for corporations to use in training.

Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Sui Jinhui, the head of investment promotion at the center, introduced that the located corporations can use the training scenarios, shared workstations, and computing power equipment completely free of charge for the first six months. The center also provides equity investments of up to 3 million RMB and regularly holds roadshows, as well as offers post-investment management services. She stated, "We also connect them with their resource providers, helping them connect with potential clients, leading enterprises, and those with specific scenario-based needs."

The robotics products shown at the center, Photo by Bastille Post

Invented Mechanical Dogs Take on Real-World Roles

Among the showcased robotics products at the center, "Xiao Su", a guide dog robot developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology Suzhou Research Institute, stood out. Equipped with autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance, Xiao Su is set to be deployed at the Suzhou School for the Blind and Deaf in the first half of this year. The staff at the center noted that, while there are over ten million visually impaired people across China, only about 100 guide dogs are currently in service, a gap that mechanical guide dogs are designed to fill.

The video showing how Xiao Su guides primary school students to cross the road, Photo by Bastille Post

Also showcased at the center was "Mao Tuan'er", the first AI-powered bionic companion robot, modeled after a Maltese dog by ECOVACS Robotics Co., Ltd. Covered in lifelike white fur and fitted with touch sensors, the robot can respond with tail wags and blinks, among other features. Furthermore, the "Magic Atom" robot, which wowed audiences with a 360-degree Thomas spin at the 2026 CMG Spring Festival Gala, was also on display.

"Mao Tuan'er", the first AI-powered bionic companion robot, modeled after a Maltese dog by ECOVACS Robotics Co., Ltd., Photo by Bastille Post

From Kitchen to Living Room: Ecovacs Drives Robotic Applications Forward

Ecovacs has held the number-one market share in China for robotic vacuum cleaners for ten consecutive years, with its online share expected to exceed 30% by 2025. Tineco, a brand under Ecovacs, has launched its "Shiwanxingchu" cooking robot into the commercial market. The commercial model features an automatic feeding pipe, a dual-wing spatula for 360-degree stirring, and an automatic heat adjustment system. A single operator can manage five to eight units simultaneously, and restaurants can input their own recipes to ensure consistent food quality.

Left: the cooking robot, right: the household robot invented by Ecovacs, Photo by Bastille Post

Ecovacs also showcased a household robot capable of handling tasks, such as folding clothes and organizing toys. Priced at nearly 50,000 RMB, the robot is still in the early stages of its commercial and home market presence.

Ecovacs also showcased a household robot capable of handling tasks, such as folding clothes and organizing toys. Photo by Bastille Post

SISPARK: Incubating 21 Listed Corporations and Eyeing Global Markets

Ms. Yan Yongping, CFO and spokesperson of Suzhou International Science Park (SISPARK), shared that over the past 26 years, the park has incubated more than 5,000 companies and nurtured 21 listed corporations, many of which have listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, including Tongcheng Travel.

The park is now building a "Model Space" entrepreneurial community powered by large-scale AI models and computing infrastructure. Photo by Bastille Post

The park is now building a "Model Space" entrepreneurial community powered by large-scale AI models and computing infrastructure. Seven large-scale models within Suzhou Industrial Park have officially filed with national authorities, accounting for nearly half of the city's total. According to Ms. Yan, the entrepreneurial cycle, once measured in decades, "can now be shortened to years, or even months."

She added that the park aims to leverage "talent, capital, cross-border collaboration", and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to propel more corporations onto the global stage.

The coffee made by robots displayed at the center, Photo by Bastille Post

The simulated aircraft cockpit, Photo by Bastille Post

The robotics products shown at the center, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

The smart products displayed at the center, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

The Hong Kong media delegation visited BioBAY in Suzhou on March 29. The staff stated that BioBAY has incubated over 500 corporations, some of which originated from Hong Kong's universities, and aims to accelerate the internationalization of innovative drugs by leveraging Hong Kong's financing advantages and clinical trial platforms.

BioBAY in Suzhou, Photo by Bastille Post

Officially opened in Suzhou Industrial Park in 2007, BioBAY has since established a complete industrial chain, spanning early-stage R&D, animal experiments, clinical trials, and manufacturing, while covering three major clusters: innovative drugs, high-end medical devices, and biotechnology. To date, BioBAY has attracted over 500 corporations, 15 of which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with another 10 having submitted listing applications and expected to go public within the year.

The high-end surgical instruments displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Yin Jianguo, Chairman of BioBAY, stated that BioBAY has achieved self-sufficiency and control over upstream and downstream raw materials. In the first quarter of 2026, approximately four drugs were licensed to overseas multinational pharmaceutical enterprises, showcasing the entrance of Chinese innovative drugs into the global market.

"In the first quarter of this year, we had about four drugs licensed overseas, and multinational pharmaceutical enterprises are spending large sums of money to purchase innovative drugs from China," he said. Mr. Yin also highlighted Chapter 18A of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Main Board Listing Rules as an ideal financing channel for pre-revenue biopharmaceutical enterprises. "Hong Kong's '18A' is actually an ideal start point for pre-revenue biopharmaceutical enterprises' listing, allowing them to raise more funds to support their next stage of research, development, and industrialization."

The drug products displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Yin pointed out that BioBAY has maintained close ties with Hong Kong's universities. "BioBAY has maintained close ties with Hong Kong. From the initial project incubation stage, some of our projects originated from Hong Kong's universities," he said. He also added that CUHK Medical Centre has conducted clinical trials of digestive drugs in collaboration with resident corporations in BioBAY, a concrete result of the clinical cooperation between Jiangsu Province and Hong Kong.

The ECG monitoring equipment displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Wang Xie, Deputy Director of the National University Biomedical Technology Transfer Center (Suzhou, Jiangsu) and Deputy General Manager of BioBAY, said that the Center was approved by the Ministry of Education in September 2024. Having established connections with universities in Hong Kong, including HKU, CUHK, HKUST, and HKBU, the Center assists Hong Kong's university faculty and students in realizing their research results in Suzhou through joint activities and proof-of-concept funds. "We jointly organize activities, allowing faculty from Hong Kong to visit Suzhou in person. We also provide platform services, technology funding, and proof-of-concept funds to help them better facilitate transfer and transformation," Mr. Wang stated.

The high-end biotech equipment displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Ren Xu, Deputy General Manager of BioBAY's Marketing Department, introduced that BioBAY started with incubating small companies in Phase I, progressed through the development of various business focuses of resident enterprise: Phase II's antibody, Phase III's cell therapy, and now operates Phase VI and other commercialization platforms, gradually establishing a complete biomedical ecosystem. He noted that though BioBAY initially aimed to benchmark against advanced international parks, it has developed its own unique development characteristics. "Developing our own unique features, we have the confidence that we will definitely become a world-class biopharmaceutical development center in the future," he said.

The high-end artificial heart displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

The sand table model of BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

The high-end equipment displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

The automated experimental equipment displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

The high-end diagnostic and treatment equipment displayed at BioBAY, Photo by Bastille Post

BioBAY in Suzhou, Photo by Bastille Post