MACAO -- The University of Macau (UM) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed an agreement on Thursday to establish the first joint laboratory co-funded by Macao and Hong Kong -- the Joint Laboratory for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence, the UM told media.

The two universities also announced the launch of a dual PhD program with joint supervision by faculty from both institutions, which the UM said marks a significant step forward in collaboration on frontier technologies and high-level talent development.

UM Rector Song Yonghua said that the joint laboratory brings together UM's strengths in interdisciplinary research, artificial intelligence, and engineering with PolyU's expertise in applied science and engineering practice. It will advance fundamental research and promote technology transfer in cutting-edge fields such as intelligent robotics and embodied artificial intelligence, he added.

Teng Jin-Guang, president of PolyU, said the initiatives to establish the laboratory and the PhD program provide a significant platform for collaboration, enabling interdisciplinary teams from both universities to conduct impactful research, address challenges in transformative technologies, and accelerate the translation of research results for the benefit of Hong Kong, Macao, and the country as a whole.