Zhejiang University and Yuyao government sign an agreement on the establishment of the Robotics Institute of Zhejiang University in April, 2017. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The Robotics Institute of Zhejiang University, a research center directly affiliated with the top Chinese university, started operation in Yuyao, a county-level city of Ningbo, according to Zhu Xiaoguo, director of the city's education department.

The setup of the institute was announced by Zhejiang University and Yuyao government in 2017. With the arrival of 78 talents including nine professors, it began operation at the beginning of 2018.

Ningbo is short of top universities and colleges and has a strong admiration for innovation resources when developing intelligent economy and promoting industrial upgrading.

The institute, which focuses on the research of robotics technologies, application of advances in science and technology, and support for robotics industry, is expected to be a big innovative platform for the university-research-industry cooperation and a strong backup for Ningbo's economic growth.

At first, Zhejiang University and Yuyao will set up a few research and application platforms and after a period of operation, the two sides will build a robotics college, according to the initial plan.

The institute will not only be a research agency, but also a place for talent cultivation. The year plan of Yuyao's education department stated that in 2018, it is going to recruit over 50 postgraduates.

The first group of talent works temporarily in a science innovation center. Next, they will start the site selection process for the institute.