On December 17, the World AI & IoT Innovation Alliance (WAIA), in collaboration with the Electronic Paper Industry Alliance (EPIA), successfully hosted the online webinar “Smart Factory Upgrades: Practical Applications of Robotics and Collaborative IoT Solutions.”
The event brought together leading experts from the AIoT industry and academia across Asia and North America, who shared practical insights into smart factory development, technological innovation, and emerging market opportunities. The discussion focused on how robotics and AIoT technologies can jointly enable sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective industrial transformation.
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The webinar featured distinguished speakers including:
Jeremie Farret, CEO, Mind in a Box (Canada)
Dr. Thinagaran Perumal, Head of the Department of Computer Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia
John Tay, President, Change Maker Association
Sally Yu, Head of Overseas Business, Hangzhou Lianxian Digital Technology
Michael Liu, Marketing Director, Shenzhen Yunhai Zhidong Technology
Drawing on experiences from Southeast Asia, China, and North America, the speakers explored smart factory upgrades from multiple dimensions—policy frameworks, technology architectures, market entry strategies, and collaboration models—providing a comprehensive reference for enterprises seeking global expansion and industrial upgrading.
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John Tay | President, Change Maker Association
ohn Tay highlighted Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, which targets the development of 3,000 smart factories by 2030, with a strong emphasis on SME digital transformation. SMEs contribute 70–80% of Malaysia’s GDP, making them a central focus of national industrial policy.
With solid foundations in electronics, automotive, and semiconductors, Malaysia faces growing demand for AIoT-enabled robotics solutions in areas such as automated sorting, production optimization, and logistics. The Malaysia IoT Association and related organizations are actively building platforms that connect government, industry, and academia to support collaboration between international technology providers and local partners.
John Tay suggested that Chinese robot OEMs can leverage this opportunity by:
Partnering with local system integrators
Focusing on cost-effectiveness and after-sales support
Aligning with government incentives
Exploring joint R&D and technology transfer models
Such approaches can help companies tap into the broader ASEAN market potential.
Michael Liu | Marketing Director, Shenzhen Yunhai Zhidong Technology
Michael Liu introduced Yunhai Zhidong’s focus on intelligent drive systems, including motors, dexterous hands, and robotic arms. These solutions are widely applied in robotics and medical devices, with strong performance in noise control, precision, and efficiency.
The company’s product portfolio covers brushless DC motors, gear motors, and integrated solutions for robotic arms, dexterous hands, and quadruped robots. Its AIoT-related capabilities enable vibration and noise optimization as well as enhanced motion control, supporting applications such as delivery, cleaning, inspection, agricultural monitoring, and industrial safety. Leveraging competitive pricing and customization capabilities, the company is actively expanding into Southeast Asia and North America.
Jeremie Farret | CEO, Mind in a Box (Canada)
Jeremie Farret presented a hybrid computing architecture that combines edge computing and cloud AI to generate high-value “deep data.” This approach addresses key challenges of traditional cloud-centric models, including high costs, latency, and data privacy risks.
Already deployed in scenarios such as environmental monitoring and military logistics, this architecture offers low-cost, privacy-preserving, and real-time support for robotics and AIoT projects.
He emphasized that successful collaboration with robot OEMs requires:
Clearly defined business models
Reference system architectures
Well-scoped data governance and contracts
For Chinese companies entering European and North American markets, compliance with data localization and regulatory requirements is critical to sustainable deployment and integration.
Sally Yu | Head of Overseas Business, Hangzhou Lianxian Digital Technology
Sally Yu introduced Lianxian Digital’s paperless factory solutions based on electronic ink (E-Ink) technology, designed to replace traditional paper documents with smart tags and digital work cards suitable for complex industrial environments.
By integrating E-Ink, RFID, and real-time positioning technologies, the solution seamlessly connects with systems such as WMS and APS, delivering both operational efficiency gains and measurable carbon reduction benefits. The solution has already been deployed in global factories across energy management and automotive manufacturing.
As the company expands internationally, it continues to address challenges related to hardware adaptation and operational habits through remote support and localized product optimization, and is actively seeking global manufacturing partners.
Dr. Thinagaran Perumal | Universiti Putra Malaysia
Dr. Thinagaran Perumal noted that Malaysia, as the world’s sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, is accelerating the integration of semiconductors and AIoT technologies under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030. Priority application areas include smart manufacturing, smart agriculture, smart cities, and healthcare, with smart manufacturing focusing on high-precision robotic assembly in semiconductor factories.
He recommended that Chinese robot OEMs adopt a “pilot-first, scale-later” strategy by:
Launching pilot projects with local universities
Applying for government incentives
Forming joint ventures with local enterprises
Co-developing training and talent development programs
This approach supports long-term localization and sustainable partnerships.
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This webinar brought together industry and academic leaders from Southeast Asia and North America, offering multidimensional insights into policy trends, technological pathways, and market-driven collaboration opportunities. It provided a practical roadmap for enterprises seeking to advance smart factory upgrades through AIoT and robotics.
As an open platform connecting global industrial resources, WAIA will continue to promote cross-border, cross-sector collaboration, supporting pilot projects, ecosystem building, and international cooperation in smart manufacturing.
To access the full presentation materials, explore potential partnership opportunities, or learn more about smart factory pilot programs, please contact the WAIA Secretariat:
Email: yujia@waia.com丨Website: www.waia.com
We welcome inquiries from enterprises, research institutions, and ecosystem partners worldwide.
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