On March 23, the 10th Sino-German Workshop on the Industrial Metaverse was held. Co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the German National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech), jointly organized by Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) and the Munich Circle Association, with co-organization from the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, the National Center for Intelligent Design and Numerical Control Innovation, the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, the Industrial Big Data and Intelligent Systems Branch of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, the Academic Committee of the International Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance, and the Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics Textbook Research Base (Higher Education Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics Textbook Research). More than 200 experts and scholars from the Chinese and German academies of engineering, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, as well as domestic and international universities, research institutes, and enterprises, attended the conference. Participants engaged in discussions on the latest research achievements and practical applications of the Industrial Metaverse, exploring the opportunities and challenges in the intelligent transformation of the manufacturing industry.
During the opening ceremony, Zhou Ji, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized that manufacturing is the cornerstone of a nation, and that China and Germany share common philosophies and complementary strengths. He proposed initiatives in four areas: solidifying the technological foundation of the Industrial Metaverse, deepening industrial application demonstrations, cultivating engineering talent, and improving cooperation mechanisms. He called for using this workshop as a new starting point to write a new chapter in Sino-German intelligent manufacturing cooperation. Michael Zäh, member of the Executive Board of acatech, affirmed the solid foundation laid by the long-term cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing that academic collaboration can transcend differences, and that technological innovation is a crucial bridge connecting the two nations. He stated that acatech would maintain a neutral and open stance to jointly explore development paths for the Industrial Metaverse. Gao Liang, Vice President of HUST, introduced the profound scientific and educational ties between HUST and Germany, as well strategic outline in intelligent manufacturing and digital twins. He noted that the Industrial Metaverse is a key direction for promoting the intelligent transformation of the manufacturing industry and wished that this workshop would serve as an opportunity to further deepen Sino-German cooperation. Ding Ning, Deputy Director of the Bureau of the International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Engineering, presided over the opening ceremony.
The first plenary session was hosted by Li Peigen, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Yang Huayong, also a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a report titled "AI-Driven Digital Transformation in Manufacturing," in which he elaborated on the significance of building digital platforms for intelligent manufacturing. He stated that the application of AI software tailored to different industries and scenarios can effectively break through traditional efficiency boundaries, unlocking enormous potential for the digital transformation of intelligent manufacturing. Michael Dowling, member of acatech, presented a report on "The Business Prospects of the Industrial Metaverse," pointing out the vast market potential and broad application prospects of the Industrial Metaverse. While acknowledging challenges in current technological implementation, he noted that long-term returns are promising, urging all parties to actively engage in this emerging field with courage and resolve.
The second plenary session was hosted by Dieter Kranzlmüller, member of acatech. Zhang Ping, Chen Xuedong, and Wu Zhiqiang, members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with Michael Zäh of acatech, delivered reports centered on "The Industrial Metaverse and Its Applications," drawing from their respective research fields. Zhang Ping proposed that human-centered multi-dimensional spatial interaction meets the demands of 6G immersive communication and represents a key breakthrough direction for the Industrial Metaverse in the communications sector. Chen Xuedong outlined the key technological framework for humanoid robots, noting that while they have experienced explosive development, a significant gap remains before they can truly match human capabilities. He emphasized that fully achieving the transition from "form resembling humans" and "behavior imitating humans" to "intelligence comparable to humans" still faces challenges. Michael Zäh demonstrated practical pathways for data-driven and intelligent algorithm-enabled production processes through four case studies, providing actionable solutions for empowering intelligent manufacturing with the Industrial Metaverse. Wu Zhiqiang introduced the concept of the "Urban Metaverse," which integrates urban physical spaces with augmented reality technology to precisely embed virtual scenes into real urban environments, highlighting the engine role of the metaverse in urban development.
The symposium on "Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, and the Industrial Metaverse" was hosted by Michael Dowling of acatech. Professor Jin Hai from HUST indicated that high-performance computing, as a core productive force, is driving the Industrial Metaverse from the conceptual stage toward large-scale application, becoming a key digital cornerstone for intelligent manufacturing transformation. Alois Knoll, member of acatech, suggested that the setbacks encountered in the early development of the consumer metaverse offer important lessons for the industrial metaverse. He noted that its success requires confronting seven key issues—including application domains, the role of AI enablement, the human role, and computing architecture - to explore viable paths from virtual experimentation to industrial implementation. Pan Zhigeng, Director of the Metaverse and Embodied Intelligence Lab at Beihang University's Hangzhou International Innovation Institute, stated that the AI-empowered metaverse is ushering in a second wave of development, with potential for rich applications in areas such as culture and tourism, sports, education, gaming, and healthcare in the future. Dieter Kranzlmüller of acatech emphasized that high-performance computing is central to Europe's AI superfactory strategy, further underscoring its importance as a core productive force. Professor Cai Xinyuan from HUST introduced the concept of the "video culture metaverse," demonstrating applications of generative AI technology in video creation and other fields, showcasing the metaverse's innovative potential in the entertainment sector. Following the panel discussion, experts engaged in exchanges with attendees.
Another symposium on "Cultivating Outstanding Engineers" was hosted by Weiming Shen, member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Six experts from China and Germany engaged in discussions on core issues such as the transformation of engineering education in the intelligent era, concepts for nurturing elite talent, innovative practices in industry-education integration, and mechanisms for international collaborative education. The participating experts agreed that in the face of the new challenges posed by AI and the Industrial Metaverse, engineering education needs to shift from a knowledge-oriented approach to a problem-oriented one, strengthening the cultivation of engineers' critical thinking, and innovation capabilities. They advocated for leveraging interdisciplinary approaches, digital intelligence empowerment, integrated virtual-real training, and university-enterprise collaboration to address challenges such as the disconnect between industry and education and the rigidity of single models. The goal is to jointly build a future-oriented system for cultivating outstanding engineers that embodies both Chinese and German characteristics and a global perspective, providing solid talent support for the development of the Industrial Metaverse and the upgrading of intelligent manufacturing.
On March 24, German experts and Chinese representatives conducted field visits to companies in Wuhan, including Dongfeng Motor Corporation's M-Hero Technology Company, the Dongfeng Motor Corporation R&D Headquarters, Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable Co., Ltd., and Xiaomi's Smart Home Appliance Factory. These visits aimed to provide a deeper understanding of China's latest achievements in intelligent manufacturing and emerging industries, offering a firsthand look at the real-world process of the intelligent transformation of China's manufacturing sector.
This series of activities further deepened exchanges, mutual learning, and practical cooperation between China and Germany in fields such as the Industrial Metaverse, artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, and engineering talent cultivation. It provided a comprehensive overview of the technological frontiers, application scenarios, and development pathways for the Industrial Metaverse, offering important ideas for promoting the transformation of the manufacturing industry, the high-quality development of intelligent manufacturing, and international scientific and technological cooperation.
