Key Takeaways:
- Hanshow, a global leader in electronic shelf labels (ESL) and digital store solutions, has entered into a multi-year research collaboration with the University of Cambridge.
- The partnership will focus on joint research and innovation in next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies.
- The collaboration aims to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into real-world industrial applications, supporting intelligent solutions across multiple industries.
- Hanshow and the University of Cambridge will adopt a closely coordinated innovation model, combining theoretical modelling, simulation testing, and experimental validation to advance the research and industrialisation of next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies.
- The partnership will provide Hanshow with cutting-edge academic support for product and solution innovation, reinforcing its core competitiveness in retail technology.
Introduction to the Partnership
Hanshow, a leading provider of electronic shelf labels and digital store solutions, has announced a significant partnership with the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. This multi-year research collaboration will focus on joint research and innovation in next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies, marking an important milestone in Hanshow’s continued investment in core technologies and long-term innovation. The partnership will leverage the University of Cambridge’s deep expertise in fundamental wireless technology research, alongside Hanshow’s extensive industry experience, to further strengthen multi-protocol integration capabilities and expand scalable applications across diverse retail scenarios.
The University of Cambridge’s Expertise
The University of Cambridge has a long history of bridging academic research and industrial practice, earning a global reputation for excellence in innovation. Its extensive expertise in intelligent sensing, smart spaces, high-precision positioning, and wireless technologies aligns closely with Hanshow’s strategy to integrate industry, academia, research, and application in driving digital transformation across retail. The university has been the academic home of pioneering scientists such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, and Stephen Hawking, and has a strong track record of translating cutting-edge research into real-world applications.
Hanshow’s Technological Foundation
Hanshow has been deeply engaged in low-power wireless communication technologies for over a decade, consistently adhering to a strategy of empowering industry applications through technological innovation. Through its proprietary HiLPC wireless communication protocol, Hanshow has built a robust wireless foundation for ESL deployments, designed to operate reliably at scale, even in complex and high-density retail environments, while maintaining ultra-low power consumption. The company’s Chief Technology Officer, Ms Min Liang, has served for many years as Chair of the ESL Working Group within the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), underscoring Hanshow’s technological leadership and influence within the industry.
Next-Generation IoT Paradigms
Building on its solid technological foundation and extensive industry practice, Hanshow is proactively advancing next-generation IoT paradigms, including Ambient IoT. By deeply integrating ultra-low-power wireless communication, ambient energy harvesting, and distributed sensing capabilities, Ambient IoT enables IoT systems to evolve from being merely ‘connected’ to becoming truly ‘sustainable’. This provides a new foundation for long-term, large-scale device deployment, low-cost operations, and refined operational management in retail environments, while supporting the continuous evolution of intelligent store infrastructure.
The Collaboration Model
As part of this collaboration, Hanshow and the University of Cambridge will adopt a closely coordinated innovation model, combining theoretical modelling, simulation testing, and experimental validation to progressively advance the research and industrialisation of next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies. The collaboration will focus on multi-protocol integration to enhance communication efficiency and consumer interaction in retail environments, and the outcomes will be extended beyond retail scenarios into broader domains such as smart offices and smart logistics.
Benefits and Future Plans
This collaboration not only provides Hanshow with cutting-edge academic support for product and solution innovation, reinforcing its core competitiveness in retail technology, but also establishes a closed-loop value chain spanning fundamental research, technology development, and industrial application. The partnership aims to set a benchmark for innovative IoT solutions in retail and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. Looking ahead, Hanshow will continue to embrace open and collaborative innovation, build a sustainable global technology innovation framework, and strengthen mechanisms for industrial deployment, empowering customers across industries to navigate an increasingly competitive market with confidence and long-term resilience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the partnership between Hanshow and the University of Cambridge represents a significant step forward in the development of next-generation intelligent hybrid wireless technologies. By combining academic excellence with industrial innovation, the two parties aim to push the boundaries of IoT technologies and transform advanced research into intelligent, scalable system solutions that help redefine operational excellence in global retail. With its strong technological foundation, extensive industry experience, and commitment to innovation, Hanshow is well-positioned to drive digital transformation across retail and beyond.
