ISD Capstone Research Project 'bridging the gap between academia and industry' with esteemed industrial partners in GBA and propels industrial innovation

Flying cars in-car system design, innovative AI cockpit experience, luxurious ecotourism in remote mountains, AI wearable health management for women in different life stages – these are some of the mind-opening industry-collaborative research themes and proposals presented at this year's Intelligent Systems Design (ISD) Capstone Research Project launch.

"Bridging the gap between academia and industry has been a challenge in tertiary education," said Prof. Stephen J. Wang, ISD Specialism Leader and ISD Capstone Subject Leader. "I am thrilled to witness again how the ISD Capstone Research Project is evolving as a unique education endeavour to answer this challenge. The project is meticulously designed to challenge our students with real-world and industrial problems and foster a collaborative environment with our esteemed industrial partners.

"In the concluding phase of their ISD journey, our students are poised to embark on a comprehensive exploration that encapsulates a full-fledged design process, culminating in a proof-of-concept demonstration that showcases their innovative design concepts and reflects their academic prowess. They are set to be well-equipped with ISD capabilities and share our commitment to industry relevance and innovation."

The three briefs from our returning industry partners given before the launch garnered 14 proposals from 8 teams. Representatives from our partners – the leading manufacturers in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) – take on the role of industry supervisors. Together with our academic supervisors, they guide the students in addressing the briefs using the ISD approach, harnessing advanced technologies and processes to bolster the most cutting-edge industries for achieving transformative industrial innovation. They all came together at the launch, getting acquainted, discussing the way forward, expected outcomes, possible team synergies, and answering questions.

Thanks to our industry partners' generosity in nurturing creative minds and supporting the ISD vision. We eagerly anticipate ground-breaking solutions and advancements this year's cohort will bring to propel the industrial innovation of our time.