HKCRC 2026 Cross-System Smart Construction Tech Exchange: Wisdom Gathers in the Bay Area, Building Dreams for the Future

Under the scorching June sun of Lingnan, the passion of a group of hard-tech dreamers burned even brighter. From June 11 to 13, the HKCRC Cross-System Tech Exchange, themed "Smart Construction · Leading the Future," was successfully held in Dongguan. More than forty colleagues from the Hong Kong Centre for Construction Robotics, Chongqing Institute of Smart Construction, XbotPark Shared Factory, and related tech startups gathered at the XbotPark Robot Base in Dongguan. They exchanged ideas through technology, bonded over sports, and climbed mountains side by side—forging a new vision for smart construction amid sweat and spirited conversation.

Seeing the Future, Igniting the Flames of Innovation

The all-day "Smart Construction Sharing Session" on June 12 was a veritable feast of ideas. By the afternoon, the conference hall was packed, and the bold slogan on the big screen—"With united will, we dare to transform construction anew"—captured everyone's attention.

Amid warm applause, Pan Jie, founder of Wuqiong Innovation, took the stage first to present his team's self-developed 3D scanner. From real-time precision modelling to high-accuracy perception in complex environments, the technology lays a solid foundation for building digital twins. Next, Xue Wenshan, founder of Keyuetech, shared his entrepreneurial journey and key insights, showing how smart tower cranes—equipped with intelligent sensing and automated planning—make high-altitude work safer and more efficient.

Li Haozhen, founder of Heli Intelligent Manufacturing, spoke about the overseas sales experience and R&D journey of his rebar-tying robot—a seemingly minor task that the machine performs with remarkable speed and accuracy. Following that, Li Yang, marketing director of Qihang Technology, demonstrated a drone-based smart site management system that enables full-cycle, multi-dimensional oversight from an aerial perspective. Finally, Zhang Junjie, founder of Yingteng Technology, introduced his displacement monitor, offering millimetre-level protection for structural safety.

Five speakers, five specialised tracks—yet all pointing in the same direction: smart construction is moving from isolated breakthroughs to system integration, and from equipment substitution to total-factor upgrading. This is a profound transformation centred on safety, efficiency, and quality—and it is the essential path for China's construction industry to evolve from "big" to "strong."

Strategic Vision, Charting the Course of the Industry

The atmosphere grew even more vibrant with the arrival of a special guest: Zhou Zhikai, Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Hunan Province, who attended the session and delivered a speech.

In his address, Deputy Director Zhou highly commended the exploratory work and practical achievements of HKCRC and the XbotPark ecosystem in the field of smart construction. He noted that the construction industry stands at a critical window for transformation and upgrading—smart construction is not an "option" but a "mandatory question." He specifically mentioned that Hunan, as a major construction province, is actively promoting the integrated development of industrialisation, digitalisation, and green construction. He expressed his hope for deeper collaboration with the innovation forces of the Greater Bay Area, bringing cutting-edge technologies into real-world engineering scenarios and enabling innovation to truly take root and bear fruit. Zhou's speech combined policy insight with industrial warmth, instilling strong confidence in the aspiring entrepreneurs present.

Following this, Professor Li Zexiang, Director of the Hong Kong Centre for Construction Robotics, delivered closing remarks. As a veteran mentor in hard-tech entrepreneurship, Professor Li distilled the day's shared consensus with his trademark acuity. He emphasised that the essence of smart construction lies not in the flashiness of individual technologies, but in whether they can truly solve site-specific pain points and form reusable product loops. He encouraged the young entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in construction sites and learn the language of frontline workers—only then can they create products that truly transform the industry. His words left a deep impression on all in attendance.

Badminton Battles, Forging Team Spirit

On the evening of June 11, participants formed eight teams for an intense round-robin badminton tournament. Smashes, drops, and saves filled the court—engineers who usually bury themselves in code and circuits transformed into athletes, channelling focus and determination into every swing. Cheers and encouragement echoed from the sidelines. The final on the evening of June 12 brought the excitement to a crescendo, with scores seesawing in a nail-biting contest. In the end, Wang Weiping claimed the championship with a steady performance, while Wang Heng and Liao Zhongyuan took second and third place respectively. The "First CRC Cup Badminton Tournament" not only showcased skill but also reinforced the team's cohesion and collective spirit. A small shuttlecock connected partners from different regions within the ecosystem, extending the spirit of "collaborative operations" from daily R&D to the sports arena.

Climbing Together, Gathering Strength for the Road Ahead

On June 13, the final day of the event, the team ventured into Dongguan's Dalingshan Forest Park. Starting from the Stone Cave Gate Tower, they ascended along the Bìyōu Valley, passed through Bawangcheng, and finally reached the summit of Chashan Peak. Accompanied by babbling streams and birdsong, the young innovators—usually surrounded by code, circuits, and robotic arms—shed their fatigue amid nature and engaged in heartfelt conversations. The three-hour hike was more than just physical exercise; it symbolised the journey of smart construction itself—winding and challenging, yet leading to new heights as long as the direction is right and the steps never cease.

Three days of tech exchange, two badminton tournaments, two showroom and shared-factory visits, three in-depth sharing sessions, and a mountain hike. On the surface, it was an exchange of smart construction experience; in essence, it was a concentrated tempering of the HKCRC team spirit—alignment through integration, and calibration through collaboration. The journey of smart construction stretches across the stars and seas, and HKCRC, together with its ecosystem partners, is rowing forward with hard-tech oars and setting sail with real-world scenarios, riding the waves of our time.

"With united will, we dare to transform construction anew." This is not just a slogan—it is the reality these entrepreneurs are writing with their own hands. The future is already here; the only constant is change. Let us look forward to seeing these innovative forces emerging from HKCRC illuminate more high-impact moments for smart construction—in China and around the world—across vast building sites and amid the rising tide of artificial intelligence.

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