Professor Haonan Li’s work spans advanced manufacturing, high-end equipment, and specialised robotics, reflecting a consistent commitment to impactful research and innovation.

Professor Li’s academic journey is marked by a cross-cultural research experience at the University of Nottingham’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre in the UK. Later, he joined UNNC in 2018 and quickly became a key figure in the field. As one of the university’s youngest full professors, he blends local engineering practices with international research approaches, fostering a distinctive and collaborative research team.

His work is driven by a clear philosophy: moving research beyond the lab to solve real-world challenges. A prime example is the desktop five-axis machine tool developed by his team, which has successfully entered the market and achieved commercial recognition. In 2022, he co-founded a start-up company called AST company, which became UNNC’s first university-affiliated enterprise and earned National High-Tech Enterprise certification—a testament to the team’s technological innovation and industrial translation capabilities.

As a doctoral supervisor, Professor Li guides students with dedication and rigor, many of whom now pursue academic careers in leading institutions worldwide. A former PhD student, now a lecturer in a local university, Bixuan Wang recalls, "Professor Li not only shaped our research path but also inspired us with his meticulous approach and persistent work ethic."

From foundational research to industrial application and scalable production, Professor Haonan Li continues to demonstrate how academic excellence can drive real-world progress. At UNNC, he and his team remain committed to exploring new frontiers and writing the next chapter in intelligent manufacturing.