SUSTech professor awarded prestigious Harashima prize

Academician Meng Qinghu, chief scientist of Yuanhua Intelligent Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., known as rπ Tech, and chair professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), was awarded the prestigious IROS Harashima Award for Innovative Technologies on Thursday.

The award was presented at the 2025 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2025) held in Hangzhou. Academician Meng is the 12th recipient of the award since its establishment in 2007 and the first scholar from the Chinese mainland to receive this top honor in the field of intelligent robotics and systems.

Meng Qinghu (C) at the awarding ceremony.

The IROS Harashima Award is one of the most authoritative individual honors in the international intelligent robotics and systems community, recognizing outstanding scientists for their pioneering contributions to robotics and intelligent systems. The recipient is rigorously selected by a committee of leading international robotics experts, making the award a benchmark for global technological innovation in robotics. Meng's award acknowledges his exceptional achievements in perception and intelligent technologies for medical and service robots.

Fostering IROS growth

A leading figure in China's robotics academia, Meng has long been dedicated to promoting international academic exchange and technological progress. In 2005, he co-hosted IROS 2005, which attracted around 800 participants. Two decades later, the IROS 2025 conference in Hangzhou set a new record with over 8,000 attendees, solidifying its status as the world's largest and most influential flagship event for intelligent robotics.

This remarkable growth not only underscores China's rapid ascent in the field of robotics but also highlights the leadership and growing influence of Chinese scholars like Meng on the global academic stage.

Pioneering in advanced medical equipment

Meng has long focused his research on robotic perception and intelligent technologies, achieving multiple breakthroughs, particularly in the medical and service robotics sectors. His work has significantly advanced robotic technology while also contributing to the improvement of human quality of life. This award specifically recognizes his innovative work in perception and intelligence for medical and service robots.

As the chief scientist of rπ Tech, Meng leverages his extensive expertise in robotic perception and intelligent systems to spearhead the company's core technology research and development. Under his leadership, the company has overcome key technological challenges, successfully industrializing intelligent surgical robot technology and propelling domestically developed high-end medical equipment to the international forefront.

First Honoree on Chinese mainland

Winning the Harashima Award signifies that the Chinese mainland has joined the global forefront in fundamental research and technological innovation for intelligent robotics. Previously, awardees were predominantly from top universities and institutions in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. Meng's achievement marks a historic zero breakthrough' for Chinese mainland scholars, establishing a significant milestone.