09 Apr 2026
Many great ideas never leave the “idea” stage—not because they aren’t good, but because of limited access to equipment, unfamiliarity with lab procedures, or uncertainty about where to start testing. As a result, ideas often struggle to move into practice.
At the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), we are working to make that first step easier.
The Innovation Factory is dedicated to breaking down barriers between faculties and disciplines by integrating campus laboratories and equipment into a unified platform:
• Over 80 laboratories (as of March 2026)
• A fully open technical platform
• Equipment across multiple disciplines
You no longer need to “find a single lab”—you can access an entire suite of resources.
Even more importantly, this platform is open to all XJTLUers. No matter which campus, faculty, or discipline you belong to, and regardless of your lab experience,
if you have an idea that you want to test, you can start here.
The Innovation Factory (IF) not only provides access to equipment but also offers full support to help students turn their ideas into reality.
Arctic Fox is a student team formed by members from several renowned universities, including Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the University of Sussex, New York University, and Zhejiang University. The team’s expertise spans advanced microelectronic materials and technology, robotics and automation, and data science.
Product concept image of the Arctic Fox
The team currently consists of 12 members, including 7 postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) students. Most members have full-time R&D experience at Fortune Global 500 companies such as Huawei, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), and China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO).
They aim to develop a wearable system designed to capture human motion during skiing, providing safety alerts as well as motion analysis to support training and performance improvement.
The project originated from a technical concept: to build an IMU+CV fused wearable motion capture technology, with applications in medical rehabilitation and sports performance assessment. Both fields demand extremely high data accuracy and device reliability, which makes experimentation, testing, validation, and debugging essential throughout the R&D process.
With the support of the Innovation Factory, the project received crucial assistance during iterative development and testing:
• Rapid Prototyping: Advanced 3D printing and circuit soldering resources enabled the team to quickly produce structural components and optimize PCBs based on real-time feedback, greatly improving development efficiency.
• Reliability Validation: Utilizing professional ESD protection and high/low-temperature testing chambers, the team successfully addressed stability issues under extreme environments—an essential step toward achieving “medical-grade” standards.
In addition, the Innovation Factory provided workspace and connected the team with valuable industry resources through roadshows and salons.
By integrating these resources, the Innovation Factory offers one-stop support for students, academic staff, and collaborators, helping transform initial ideas into testable technical solutions, and even further into fully developed engineering projects.
03 How to Use Laboratory Resources
The Innovation Factory connects over 80 laboratories at the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) and provides access to professional equipment through an online booking system, supporting rapid prototyping, product development, and technical validation. To further enhance user experience, the equipment booking process has been optimized, making it more efficient and user-friendly. This guide offers a step-by-step introduction to the complete process, from account registration and login to equipment reservation and usage. We warmly encourage all students and staff to make full use of the system and book the equipment they need to support their research and project development.
Equipment Booking Guide (LIMS):
04 Getting Started from Scratch: Equipment Training Support
Each semester, the Innovation Factory launches a series of hands-on training sessions to help students and staff quickly master the use of laboratory equipment. Current offerings include 3D printing and laser cutting, covering the full journey from fundamental principles to practical operation. No prior experience is required—just bring your curiosity and come explore!
Through these structured trainings, you will gain the ability to turn ideas into tangible outcomes and confidently advance your projects and research. If you are interested in training on other equipment, feel free to let us know—Innovation Factory will continue to expand its offerings based on your feedback and explore more possibilities together.
Training Materials and Information：
05 Advanced Project Support: Empowering Undergraduate SURF Projects
Innovation Factory, as a key technology innovation support platform within the SURF program, is dedicated to helping students turn ideas into reality. By integrating over 80 laboratory resources at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), it provides comprehensive support including equipment access, project spaces, technical guidance, mentorship, and funding. The platform empowers students to carry out technology validation, prototype development, and product iteration. Focusing on projects with strong technological innovation and growth potential, Innovation Factory not only offers systematic support during the SURF period but also creates clear pathways for further incubation and commercialization, enabling student teams to bridge the gap from research exploration to industrial application.
Learn More：
09 Apr 2026