The recipient list of the 11^th Capek Prize for Outstanding Young Scholars was recently announced. Chunying LI, Associate Researcher of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), was awarded this prestigious accolade in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the advancement of the robotics industry.

Established in 2014 by the Capek Prize Committee, the Capek Prize is named in honor of Karel Čapek, the Czech science fiction writer who coined the term “robot”.

The award aspires to serve as a witness to the evolution of the robotics industry and to establish itself as the “Nobel Prize” of the robotics field. Its mission is threefold: to highlight visionary enterprises in robotics, thereby elevating industry-wide brand value; to promote innovative enterprises as benchmarks for enhancing sector-wide capabilities; and to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth of the robotics domain.

Over the past decade, the Capek Prize has emerged as one of China’s most distinguished awards in robotics. Annually, the prize conducts industry evaluations and hosts award ceremonies, playing an indispensable role in advancing the healthy and sustainable development of China’s robotics industry while documenting its transformative impact on manufacturing and human lifestyles.

Chunying LI is a Shenzhen Pengcheng Peacock Plan Distinguished Talent and a 2024 Young Scientist Nominee for the Maritime Power Initiative. As an expert in intelligent robotics at a National Engineering Research Center, his research focuses on intelligent and underwater robotic systems, encompassing robotic control strategies, collaborative operations, localization and navigation, hybrid communication, and multi-sensor fusion.

He currently serves as Finance Chair of the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (IEEE ICMA), Publication Co-Chair of the IEEE ICMA 2024, and the Session Chair from 2021 to 2025 of the IEEE ICMA.

Chunying LI is also a Youth Editorial Board Member for Automation and Information Engineering, a member of the IEEE, a Youth Advisor for Information and Control, and a member of the Chinese Association of Automation. Additionally, he acts as a long-term reviewer for multiple top-tier international journals.

His research findings have been published in nearly 40 papers in leading international journals and conferences in robotics and artificial intelligence. His work exemplifies interdisciplinary innovation and leadership in advancing robotics technologies with both theoretical and practical significance.