Showcasing alumni innovation

We celebrate and showcase our world-leading alumni to light the path for the generations to follow. For over 50 years, Essex graduates have gone on to change the world. They’ve become Presidents, Speakers of the House and Nobel Laureates to name just a few, and with technology advancing at rapid speed, Essex graduates are pioneering in the modern world. 

Visitors to our new Innovation Centre, which opened in 2019, will receive an extra special welcome thanks to a unique gift from alumnus Dr Ruijiao “Ricky” Li (MSD Computer Science, 2015). Dr Li founded AMY Robotics, which focuses on service robot customisation, following his time at Essex and has donated AMY the robot to showcase alumni innovation. AMY is an intelligent robot assistant that uses the latest innovations to enhance quality of life and can be used for healthcare, rehabilitation, home security, telepresence, education and entertainment. 

Also on display in the Centre are two Mobikes, generously gifted to us by alumnus and Honorary Graduate, Dr Yiping Xia (MSc Telecommunication and Information Systems, 2005), co-founder of Mobike. Mobike is one of the world’s first and largest smart bike-sharing services and currently operates in more than 200 cities across the globe.

Dr Li and Dr Yiping are two examples of the tenacity and innovation that epitomises the Essex Spirit. With our new Innovation Centre starting to bear fruit, Essex is poised to become the home for the next generation of future tech leaders.