HKUST Engineering Receives Donation Pledge from Bambu Lab
The School of Engineering (SENG) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has received a donation pledge from Bambu Lab comprising designated funds and 3D printing equipment to support the School of Engineering. The initiative recognizes the contributions of HKUST’s students and faculty to Bambu Lab’s development and forms a major element of the company’s “2026 Alma Mater Fund” (2026 母校基金).
Founded in 2020, Bambu Lab brings together experts in mechanical design, structural engineering, motion control, and machine vision. In less than five years, the company has rapidly grown into a global leader in consumer-grade 3D printing, driving substantial expansion across the industry and emerging as one of the fastest-growing unicorns in China. Headquartered in Shenzhen’s Nanshan Science Park, Bambu Lab has also established R&D centers in Shenzhen and Shanghai, as well as an office in Austin, Texas, US. Today, more than 90% of higher education institutions in China use Bambu’s equipment for teaching and research related to additive manufacturing.
Bambu Lab’s rapid growth in recent years has been underpinned by outstanding talent nurtured by HKUST. Over the past five years, many graduates and individuals with HKUST backgrounds have joined Bambu, contributing their expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and product development. Several HKUST alumni now hold key management roles within the R&D team—for instance, an engineering alumnus from the Class of 2013 currently leads one of Bambu’s software business units; an engineering alumnus from the Class of 2014 heads the algorithm business; and a 2018 engineering graduate serves as a software development team lead. According to Bambu Lab, “almost every Bambu device shipped worldwide bears the ingenuity and dedication of HKUST students”.
To further give back to the alma mater, Bambu Lab will support SENG through both donations and in‑kind equipment. The funding will establish scholarships, teaching awards, and a talent recruitment program, and will enable students to participate in learning opportunities on and off campus. Uniquely, the package also includes support for innovation in student teams and groups, enhancing students’ hands‑on capability and experiential learning. In addition, Bambu plans to donate an array of advanced 3D printers to help students turn research ideas into physical prototypes, advancing teaching and research activities at SENG.
Prof. Tim WOO, HKUST Director of Center for Global and Community Engagement, said, “The School of Engineering is grateful for Bambu Lab’s support. The funding will not only help draw high‑potential undergraduate and postgraduate students, but also support them in academic exchanges, internships, competitions, seminars and experiential learning, thereby broadening their horizons and practical experience and laying a stronger foundation for the next generation of innovation and technology talent.”
The donation marks the beginning of collaboration between HKUST and Bambu Lab in talent development and innovation, setting to benefit SENG students and academic teams.
