Roundtable: Those who stand against the wind, seeking answers across the sea | 36Kr WAVES 2026 New Wave
主题圆桌: 迎风而立的人，那些漂洋过海寻找的答案｜36氪WAVES2026新浪潮
In 2026, the WAVES conference, organized by 36Kr and AnYun, took place in Panyu, Guangzhou, focusing on the theme "This Summer." The event gathered top investors, industry leaders, and emerging entrepreneurs over two days to discuss the evolution of AI and hard technology, which are shifting from niche areas to mainstream consensus. The conference featured 14 in-depth roundtable discussions and numerous independent speeches that explored the underlying logic of key sectors such as AI, hard technology, overseas expansion, and healthcare. Key speakers included Peng Xiaoqiu, editor-in-chief of 36Kr, Zhang Hanliang from DBS Bank, Tao Yangfeng from Zero One Capital, Guo Bin from Paradise Silicon Valley, and Liu Bingbin, CEO of Zendure. They shared insights on the changing landscape of entrepreneurship, particularly the transition from manufacturing advantages to brand and engineering advantages in the past decade. Discussions highlighted the importance of understanding market demands and the risks associated with overseas expansion, emphasizing that successful ventures require a deep understanding of both domestic and international markets. The conference underscored the necessity for entrepreneurs to be aware of their capabilities and the potential pitfalls of blindly pursuing global opportunities. As the landscape of international business continues to evolve, the insights shared at WAVES 2026 aim to guide entrepreneurs in navigating the complexities of global markets.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
HERL (Human Engineering Research Lab)
United States
Joint University of Pittsburgh and US Department of Veterans Affairs laboratory conducting rehabilitation engineering research. Develops mobility devices, assistive technologies, and medical-grade products for people with disabilities.
Joanneum Research Assoc (AT)
Austria
Joanneum Research Institute for Robotics and Flexible Production conducts applied R&D in industrial robot systems, production automation and robot safety, offering feasibility analysis, consulting and testing in a robotics solution centre.
St Petersburg National Research U of ITMO
Russian leading research university (ITMO University) specializing in information technology, optical engineering, and photonics. Active research programs in AI, robotics, computer vision, and cyber-physical systems.
Langebaek Logistics A/S
Denmark
Scandinavian consultancy specializing in supply chain management, logistics optimization, and warehousing. Advises clients at strategic and operational levels, integrating automation and AI into logistics workflows.
Qubiqa (prev Univeyor Logistics) (DK)
Denmark
Qubiqa is a Danish supplier of intelligent material handling and logistics systems, providing turnkey intralogistics solutions including conveyor systems and palletizing equipment, specializing in the insulation manufacturing sector.
Scallog Scalable Logistics (FR)
French developer of goods-to-person robotic order picking systems for logistics warehouses. Robots integrate with existing WMS/ERP platforms; claimed ROI under two years with documented productivity gains above 40% in order picking operations.
Robot Care Systems
Netherlands
The URL resolves to Robots.nu, an informational portal covering personal, service, care, and educational robots. The site aggregates overviews and news about robots used in homes, healthcare, and workplaces, targeting general audiences exploring robotic technology applications.
Top Grade Healthcare (CN)
Top Grade Healthcare is a Chinese healthcare products and services company. It has limited verifiable presence in robotics; however, the company is listed in context of healthcare automation and senior care robotic applications in the Chinese market.
Xenex Healthcare Services
United States
Xenex Healthcare Services manufactures the LightStrike UV disinfection robot, which uses pulsed xenon UV technology to reduce microbial load in hospital rooms. Provides workflow consulting alongside the robotic system to improve room turnover efficiency.
ProPhotonix Ltd
United States
ProPhotonix manufactures and distributes OEM LED lighting systems and laser diode modules for machine vision applications, providing custom and configurable photonic solutions for industrial inspection and imaging systems.
Troax AB (Sweden)
Troax is a Swedish manufacturer of perimeter guarding and machine guarding panels used to secure industrial robot cells and automated production areas. Its modular steel mesh enclosures provide physical safety barriers compliant with ISO and CE machinery safety standards.
Mapbox
United States
US location platform providing mapping APIs, turn-by-turn navigation SDKs, and geospatial data services for mobile, web, and automotive applications. Used by automakers including Toyota for in-vehicle navigation systems.
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