Mentors

Professor

Zexiang Li

Founder and Dean of Shenzhen InnoX Academy

Founder of XbotPark Robotics Incubator

Colin Lam Ko Yin Professor of Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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.”You Bring Charm to the World Award.

Carol Yu

Associate Dean of Shenzhen InnoX Academy

Former Assistant Chief Editor, Producer, and Host of a weekly television interview show “Visionaries” with global thought leaders at one of the largest global Chinese TV networks Phoenix TV. Her show focused on the future of technology, health, education and society to help people understand change and prepare for change. She was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and Ten Outstanding New Hong Kong Young Persons. Carol also wrote a book on the future of education. Before joining Phoenix TV, Carol was with the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley and the World Bank. Carol received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Jason Woodard

Visiting Professor, Shenzhen InnoX Academy

Former Dean of External Programs and Partnerships at Olin College. Ph.D. in Information, Technology, and Management from Harvard University. A.B. from Princeton University. Worked for IBM in technical and marketing roles. Research focuses on platform architecture, competitive strategy, and industry evolution.

Xiaoyuan Li

Chair professor

PhD, Princeton University, Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. After completing his postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the Department of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as one of the founding faculty members and served as the head of the department from 2004 to 2007. He has been awarded the SPACC-CSJ Award of the Chemical Society of Japan (2005), the Second Prize of the Joint Award for Scientific and Technological Achievements of the Ministry of Education (2000), Overseas Young Scientist Award (1999 Category B) and other domestic and foreign awards.

Qian Zhang

Chair professor

Tencent Professor of Engineering, Chair Professor of Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Co-director of Huawei-HKUST Innovation Lab and Director of HKUST Digital Life Research Center, IEEE Fellow, Academician of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Science, former research manager of Wireless and Networking Group in Microsoft Research Asia. More than 400 reviewed papers have been published in leading international journals and major conferences. She is currently the Editor in Chief of IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing.

Taotao Zhang

Head of Incubation and Projects

B.S. and M.S. in Electronic Engineering from Tsinghua University. He worked at the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and New Element Healthcare. He has more than ten years of working and entrepreneurial experience in the medical and healthcare field. He has overseen and guided the development of more than a dozen domestic leading smart medical and health devices.