From Lab to Unicorn: CityU (Dongguan) and the Robotics Base Turn Research into Billion‑Dollar Startups

On the afternoon of August 25, the joint interview delegation themed “Leveraging New Advantages to Align with the 15th Five-Year Plan” visited the Dongguan Songshan Lake Science City to explore a new model of integrated industry-academia-innovation collaboration.

The XbotPark in Songshan Lake, Photo by Bastille Post

Planning to Set up Overseas Expansion Hub

The XbotPark in Songshan Lake leverages the Greater Bay Area's comprehensive industrial chain and mature innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to incubate start-ups in robotics and smart hardware. Since its establishment in 2014, XbotPark has incubated more than 200 companies nationwide, with two already listed in Hong Kong, one preparing for listing, and several having achieved unicorn status.

The XbotPark in Songshan Lake, Photo by Bastille Post

The XbotPark in Songshan Lake, Photo by Bastille Post

CYC Motor, an electric bicycle company founded in Hong Kong in 2017, later relocated to XbotPark. Founder Jon Chan said the company’s core supply chain resources are located close to XbotPark, with ample technical talent available in Dongguan and Shenzhen. He noted that recruiting specialised talent is far more efficient there than in Hong Kong. With the support of the Greater Bay Area supply chain, the company has accelerated the entire process, from prototyping and testing to mass production, enabling rapid responses to the product iteration demands of top professional cyclists.

Jon Chan, the founder of CYC Motor (left), and Christopher Gerardino (right), CEO of its sub-brand Ristretto, Photo by Bastille Post

Incubated products on display at the XbotPark, Photo by Bastille Post

Incubated products on display at the XbotPark, Photo by Bastille Post

Incubated products on display at the XbotPark, Photo by Bastille Post

Yu Chunhua, Technical Director of Supply Chain at XbotPark, said the park has a mature screening process for early-stage projects, opens incubation channels to entrepreneurs worldwide, and provides full-chain support for start-ups at different stages of development.

Yu Chunhua, Technical Director of Supply Chain at XbotPark (left), Photo by Bastille Post

He added that the park is planning to establish an overseas expansion hub in Hong Kong, offering a bridge for hardware technology companies to connect with international markets and helping teams navigate the challenges of going global.

HK Universities in GBA Embrace Innovation and Entrepreneurship

City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), also located in Songshan Lake, received official approval for establishment in 2024 as a cooperative university in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Prof. Chiu Chi Yue, Vice President (Administration) of CityUHK (Dongguan), believes that Songshan Lake Science City, home to both high-tech enterprises and higher education institutions, resembles a “Chinese version of Silicon Valley."

Prof. Chiu Chi Yue, Vice President (Administration) of CityUHK (Dongguan), Photo by Bastille Post

Currently, CityUHK (Dongguan), adhering to a “small but elite” education model, has approximately 2,600 students, mainly at the postgraduate level. The university is focused on specific disciplines aligned with national and regional development strategies, including natural sciences, new energy, new materials and big data, instead of pursuing large-scale enrolment expansion.

City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), Photo by Bastille Post

Prof. Chiu said the university follows the philosophy of “integrating teaching and research, maintaining consistent quality across two campuses, and fostering limitless innovation," ensuring full alignment with the curriculum and teaching quality of the Hong Kong campus while cultivating students’ innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities in the era of rapid AI advancement. The university also encourages collaboration between faculty, students and industry to translate research outcomes into new ventures or commercially viable products.

The nanotechnology lab at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), Photo by Bastille Post

The nanotechnology lab at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), Photo by Bastille Post

He revealed that the university will welcome its first batch of master‘s graduates in 2026, with a high rate of further study, particularly in the research university pathway. Some 90% of graduates have secured employment with leading companies such as Huawei and Tencent, as well as research institutions.

City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan),, Photo by Bastille Post

Prof. Chiu explained that a think tank delegation previously sent by the HKSAR Government visited the university, and both sides agreed that CityUHK (Dongguan)’s educational philosophy closely aligns with the current development vision for the Northern Metropolis. He therefore anticipates that as the university town development in the Northern Metropolis progresses, there will be extensive opportunities for cooperation and exchange between the university and the Northern Metropolis, and the university looks forward to building even closer ties with the Northern Metropolis in the future.

City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan),, Photo by Bastille Post

The first phase of the CityUHK (Dongguan) campus covers 180 mu (12 hectares) and was put into use in 2024. The second phase, covering 342 mu (22.8 hectares), began construction this year and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, with opening planned for 2028. The university also has plans for a third-phase campus.

The long-term plan for the Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park is being accelerated. Ian Kwok, General Manager of Aviation Logistics (Dongguan), Airport Authority Hong Kong, said the permanent logistics park facilities are expected to begin trial operations in April 2027 and formally commence operations in June. Once the long-term plan reaches full maturity, the annual cargo handling capacity is expected to exceed 1 million tonnes.

The Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park, Photo by Bastille Post

Ian Kwok noted that the core purpose of the Dongguan Logistics Park is to serve the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market by “front-loading” Hong Kong Airport’s cargo and business services to the hinterland of the Greater Bay Area, relocating them upstream to extend service reach and improve efficiency and quality.

The Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park, Photo by Bastille Post

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Dongguan Logistics Park is expected to achieve breakthroughs and growth, which includes a significant increase in the first-phase site area to 380,000 square metres; the introduction of intelligent systems and equipment such as intelligent quay cranes, driverless cargo trucks, and automated racking; and the customisation of high-speed cargo vessels to reduce shipping time to within four hours.

The Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park, Photo by Bastille Post

The long-term plan involves a total investment of approximately RMB6 billion, with a gross floor area exceeding 550,000 square metres. It includes a fully automated terminal, an intelligent air cargo terminal, a high-value-added logistics centre, a modern international express warehouse, and a six-storey freight forwarding and air cargo terminal integrated warehouse. The terminal works were completed and passed acceptance at the end of May 2026, and the integrated warehouse on the main site was topped out in June 2026.

The Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park, Photo by Bastille Post

The Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park, Photo by Bastille Post

The Park expects that once the long-term plan reaches full maturity, the annual cargo handling capacity will exceed 1 million tonnes, contributing approximately RMB 700 billion in foreign trade import and export value and creating more than 6,000 jobs.

Ian Kwok, General Manager of Aviation Logistics (Dongguan), Airport Authority Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post

Ian Kwok explained that the Dongguan Logistics Park maintains collaboration with Hong Kong. Security screening completed at the Dongguan Logistics Park is recognised by Hong Kong Customs, and cargo arriving in Hong Kong by security methods approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China does not require secondary security screening. The freight forwarders and cargo terminals providing services in Dongguan are all Hong Kong industry organisations that strictly comply with the air transport regulations of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. He said that since operations began in 2023, the annual cargo value handled by the Dongguan Logistics Park has continued to grow significantly, with cumulative handled cargo value currently exceeding approximately HK$80 billion.