Export Park, a pioneering innovation hub developed by robotics expert Li Zexiang, offers a window into China’s evolving approach to deep-tech entrepreneurship – one that integrates education, research, and industrialisation. At BEYOND Expo in Macau, Li, an early mentor to DJI founder Frank Wang, said the initiative aims to train a new generation of engineers capable of transforming cutting-edge ideas into market-ready products.
“We are building a new model of engineering education that cultivates entrepreneurial talent while accelerating technology transfer,” Li said during a panel at BEYOND Expo’s AI Summit. “Our approach combines research, teaching, and startup incubation under one roof.”
Li began his academic career at HKUST in the early 1990s, focusing on robotics research and graduate instruction. In 1998, he co-founded motion control company Googol Technology in Shenzhen, after the city’s government sought to encourage university-industry collaboration. Googol became a key supplier in China’s semiconductor and industrial automation sectors, and the venture demonstrated that professor-led startups could succeed in China’s emerging innovation landscape.
But Li said the real breakthrough came from students – notably those involved in university robotics competitions. DJI’s Wang, who built drones to fund his education, was among the first. Today, DJI is the world’s largest consumer drone maker.
“Competitions provided hands-on experience in product design, teamwork and market testing,” said Li. “This was more effective than traditional teaching.”
Inspired by student success, Li’s graduate lab evolved into an incubator. More than 90 per cent of his students went on to launch startups, and over 50 companies emerged from his mentorship.
The success of Li’s incubator model led to the creation of Export Park’s flagship base beside Songshan Lake in the southern city of Dongguan — a hub that supports early-stage, hardware-focused entrepreneurs through manufacturing resources, mentorship, and investment access.
The park partners with regional universities, including Guangdong University of Technology, to attract talent. More than 60 startups have been launched through the base. Among them are Narwal (which produces floor-cleaning robots), EcoFlow (portable energy storage), and Mammotion (AI-powered lawnmowers). More than 80 per cent of companies have survived, with nearly 15 per cent achieving valuations exceeding RMB 10 billion ($1.38 billion).
Export Park’s model is now being scaled to other cities such as Ningbo, Chongqing, Changzhou, and Hong Kong. In each case, it is paired with customised curricula focused on project-based learning and market validation.
In Chongqing, Export Park’s joint program with a local university produced an entrepreneurial rate of 20 per cent among graduates. “By contrast, entrepreneurship rates at top US universities such as Stanford and MIT remain below 0.5 per cent,” Li noted.
The cumulative impact of Export Park is increasingly significant. As of 2023, it had incubated more than 40 startups, with projected revenue exceeding RMB 18 billion ($2.5 billion) and combined valuations surpassing RMB 70 billion ($9.72 billion) in 2024. Collectively, these companies have paid over RMB 2 billion ($0.28 billion) in taxes, generating a tenfold return on public investment, according to Li.
Many have gained international traction, particularly through platforms such as Kickstarter, where the average Export Park campaign raised $1.8 million – roughly 70 times the global average.
“These companies are standing shoulder to shoulder with global peers at events like CES,” said Li. “China’s deep-tech sector is ready for the world stage.”
Ultimately, Li envisions a top-down reform of China’s education system, starting from universities and reaching as far as primary schools. “The performance of institutions like the Shenzhen Institute of Technological Innovation and the affiliated innovation-focused kindergarten has continued to exceed our expectations,” Li said.
by #AI [2.0] May 29, 2025 · Automatic / Editor's Picks [News]
