Professor Zexiang Li has co-founded several very successful companies with his colleagues and students from the Automation Technology Center (ATC)at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). These companies include Googol Tech (the first motion control company in China), DJI (a leading company in UAV and flycam products), ePropulsion (an innovative provider of high-performance marine electric propulsion systems), etc.
To explore the pathway from the “Hollywood of Makers” to the “Hollywood of Innovators” in the Greater Bay Area, in 2014, Professor Li co-founded the XbotPark robotic incubator in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, Shenzhen’s northern neighbor. The success of XbotPark has attracted great interests from industry and government recognition, and has spurred many Chinese cities to attempt to replicate its success. XbotPark has then expanded to Hong Kong, Ningbo, Changzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou cities, contributing to building a nurturing and positive environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship for young graduates. XbotPark has then expanded to Hong Kong, Ningbo, Changzhou, Chongqing and Guangzhou cities. In 2021, with over 20 years of experience in talent cultivation andincubation of more than 140 technology companies , Professor Li founded Shenzhen Innovation Academy, contributing to building a nurturing and comprehensive ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship for young talents.
Professor Li attended the South-Central University in 1978, received his BS (with honors) degrees in Electrical Engineering and Economics from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1983, his MS degree in EECS in 1985, MA in mathematics and PhD in EECS in 1989, all from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1992, he joined the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering of the HKUST and is currently a professor of the department. He founded the ATC and currently serves as its director. Professor Li became an IEEE Fellow in 2008. In 2019, Professor Li was selected as co-recipient of the 2019 IEEE Robotics and Automation Award for his influential “contributions to the development of civilian drones, aerial imaging technology, robotics engineering advancement, innovation and entrepreneurship.”