Jia Jiaya: Revolutionizing Smart Manufacturing With AI

Jia Jiaya is the founder of SmartMore, a company that focuses on manufacturing optimization and automation (MOA) with world-class research and development.

Jia Jiaya is a renowned computer vision expert and tenured professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2019 he founded SmartMore and within 18 months he transformed it into a unicorn, a rare achievement in Hong Kong. With more than 20 years of experience in AI and image research, Jia recognized an opportunity in the market for smart manufacturing, automating processes in industries like electronics, optics, and automotive with AI-powered visual inspection tools.

With the help of his ex-colleagues from Tencent’s YouTu X-Lab, Jia created a team including CEO Shen Xiaoyong, a former student. Their expertise helped SmartMore to create more than 30 products such as the Viscanner code reader and the Smore Vimo AI platform. Big companies like Carl Zeiss, Airbus, and Canon became clients, trusting SmartMore’s solutions.

Jia raised funds quickly with his academic and industry connections, four rounds in 18 months, including 200 million USD in 2021 from investors like IDG Capital and Sequoia China. With the money, they expanded their research and growth and expanded SmartMore to cities like Shenzhen, Japan, and Singapore. Jia made SmartMore a major player in this space at the ideal moment, matching China's focus on smart industry developments.

By integrating AI with practical industrial needs, Jia not only created a billion-dollar enterprise but also redefined Hong Kong’s role in the global tech ecosystem. Jia’s leadership not only grew a unicorn but also put the city on the map as a tech hub, blending innovation with real-world impact in manufacturing.