Professor Xiong Rong from Zhejiang University is named one of the "11 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics in 2026" by the International Federation of Robotics. [Photo/Tide News]

Xiong Rong, a professor at Zhejiang University and chief scientist of the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, has been named one of the "11 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics in 2026" by the International Federation of Robotics.

The award recognizes just 11 women worldwide each year for outstanding contributions to robotics research, industrial application and talent development. Xiong is the only recipient from China in 2026, and the honor is widely regarded as one of the top recognitions for women in the global robotics field.

Xiong has spent nearly three decades advancing intelligent robotics. Her team has won more than a dozen world championships and runner-up titles in international robot soccer competitions, and in 2011, they developed robots capable of dynamically playing table tennis, drawing global attention.

She has published nearly 200 papers in leading journals such as Science Robotics, holds more than 60 patents, and has led over 20 national research projects.

Beyond academia, Xiong has also pushed robotics into real-world industries. In 2016 she co-founded Iplusmobot Technology Co in Hangzhou to develop autonomous mobile robots for industrial logistics. In 2023 she helped establish the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center in Ningbo, which has since launched the NAVIAI series of humanoid robots and deployed them in manufacturing and power grid inspection.

Xiong said she hopes to continue advancing embodied intelligence and developing high-precision, adaptable robots that can serve industries and households alike, while encouraging more women to pursue careers in engineering and robotics.

Xiong poses with a humanoid robot. [Photo/Tide News]