NCDC – Hong Kong Centre

NOTE: Hong Kong Centre Opennings (3 Research Assistant Professors) — Click Here to Apply

Background: HUST and PolyU have discussed potential collaboration directions and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 24, 2025, to establish a Hong Kong Branch of the NCDC. It is aimed to further explore the co-development framework of the NCDC – Hong Kong Centre, facing the main battlefield and major needs of the national economy, giving play to Hong Kong’s location advantages and international cutting-edge innovation capabilities, and cooperating to complement each other and overcome critical challenges. This initiative aligns with the national objective of accelerating industrial software competitiveness and supports the Hong Kong SAR Government’s strategy to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. Furthermore, both parties agree that Hong Kong, as a global hub for technological innovation, and Wuhan, with their complementary strengths in high-end manufacturing and intelligent equipment, provide a solid foundation for collaboration (https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ise/news-and-events/news/2025/20250729-ncdc/)

Vision: Align with NCDC, we aim to establish a world-class research center on advancing the next-generation industrial software for intelligent manufacturing, majorly in 3 pillars: Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing Systems, Physical AI-enabled Manufacturing Process, and Embodied Intelligent Production Planning and Control. (https://www.ncdc.net.cn/)

Mission: To boost the nation’s strategic plan on intelligent manufacturing, by introducing/developing advanced manufacturing and robotic system solutions, artificial intelligence methodologies, and digitalized systems/tools.

Our Strategic Values: Actively responding to the national positioning and deployment for Hong Kong as an “International Innovation and Technology Center”, focusing on the major industrial software demands and key technologies that are currently lacking in China, we will carry out basic theoretical and common technological innovations, forming leading advantages in the fields of intelligent manufacturing. At the same time, leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantage of “backing the motherland and connecting the world”, we will provide a cross-border platform for the construction and promotion of China’s manufacturing power.

3 RAP Posts Specification

Research Assistant Professor in Smart Manufacturing Systems/Physical AI/Embodied Intelligence (three posts)

The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a wide scope of multi-disciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and actively engages in various applied research and consultancy work with the community.  Please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ise for more information about the unit.

 

Duties

The appointees will be required to:

• conduct high-impact research in the areas of Human-Robot Collaborative Manufacturing Systems, Physical AI-enabled Manufacturing Process, and Embodied Intelligent Production Planning and Control.
• pursue actively external research grants, such as General Research Fund, as Principal Investigator;
• provide quality teaching at undergraduate or postgraduate level;
• contribute to departmental service; and
• perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Unit or his/her delegates.

 

Qualifications

Applicants should:

• a PhD degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering, Robot and Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial AI or a related discipline;
• preferably have at least two years of postdoctoral research experience;
• have demonstrated promise of a high level of creativity and excellence in research, with strong competence in one or more of the following areas: robotics AI, sim-to-real transfer, physics-based simulation, robotic mechanisms, end-effectors and manipulation, robot body design, mechanics, smart manufacturing, and industrial software;
• be able to demonstrate effective classroom teaching skills; and
• be a good team player and have excellent communication skills and the ability to use English as the medium of instruction.

 

Conditions of Service

A highly competitive package including a medical benefits plan and a gratuity payable upon completion of the term which is normally for two to three years initially, with possibility of extension.

 

Application

Please submit a detailed curriculum vitae, a publication list, a research statement, and the names and addresses of two referees.

For further details about the post or the research direction, please contact via email pai.zheng@polyu.edu.hk.

Consideration of applications will commence on 01 April 2026 until the positions are filled.

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