PolyU and Hanson Robotics Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre for Humanistic Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CHAiR). The Centre will focus on translational research in artificial intelligence (AI) and humanistic social robots, leveraging PolyU’s strengths in interdisciplinary research and Hanson Robotics’ well-known humanoid robotics platform to explore technology applications.

As an interdisciplinary research and development centre, CHAiR will facilitate cross-faculty collaboration in research fields including AI, the Internet of Things, neuroscience, design, computer science, mechanical engineering, material science, healthcare and the humanities. Academia-industry collaboration is one of the most productive mechanisms for creating and implementing innovations. CHAiR is wellpositioned to refine and improve the performance of humanistic social robots to promote the growth of a new service robot industry. In collaboration with Hanson Robotics, CHAiR will support innovation and entrepreneurship in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.