Cornerstone Robotics, a rapidly growing surgical robot start-up based in Hong Kong, aims to raise over £70 million this year as it speeds up its expansion efforts.
Its product development plans will challenge the dominance of global robotic systems, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, experts suggest.
The new funding will accelerate the company’s efforts in advancing the commercialisation process, developing new surgical robotics products, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and promoting global adoption of advanced robotic surgical solutions.
Besides receiving funding from a group of prominent investors, it also secured investment from the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund under the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
The endorsement highlights confidence in Cornerstone Robotics’ product innovation and global commercialisation capabilities, they say.
This backing will further enable it to expand into Europe, Southeast Asia and across global markets.
Since its establishment in September 2019, Cornerstone Robotics has aimed to revolutionise healthcare by making advanced surgical systems accessible worldwide.
Through in-house research and development, as well as vertical supply chain integration, Cornerstone Robotics delivers high-quality performance at competitive prices, enabling partnerships with leading medical centres in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Europe, including the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Medicine.
The company’s successful clinical trials in multiple specialties – including urology, general surgery, gynaecology and thoracic surgeries – have built a solid foundation for international expansion.
In September 2024, Cornerstone Robotics achieved a significant milestone by obtaining the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval in China for Sentire, its pioneering endoscopic surgical system.
In the same year, Cornerstone Robotics established a site in the UK. This collaboration aims to encourage cutting-edge innovation, support advanced research, and enhance its capacity to serve patients in Europe and beyond.
Professor Samuel Au, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics, said: ‘Cornerstone Robotics experienced several pivotal milestones over the past year. We are deeply grateful to our shareholders for their trust and support. This milestone is not only a recognition of our team’s efforts in translating surgical robotics innovations into practical applications but also a testament to our commitment to long-term, high-quality development.
‘Building the cornerstone of the surgical robotics industry has been our aspiration since we began in 2019. After five years of effort, we have achieved independent R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and also received recognition from the NMPA in 2024. Moving forward, our team will continue to innovate, expand global markets, advance international certifications, and collaborate with more partners to create value for the intelligent healthcare industry and contribute to a better future for humanity.’
