In ancient Rome, a cornerstone was the foundation upon which great structures stood; without it, everything collapsed. Inspired by this principle of strength, reliability, and precision, Professor Samuel Au set out to build something transformative – not in construction, but in surgery. With over two decades of research in medical robotics, beginning with his Ph.D. at MIT, he founded Cornerstone Robotics to redefine surgery, making procedures faster, safer, and more accessible.
Since 2019, this Hong Kong-born unicorn has been laying the groundwork for a new standard in surgical technology, beginning in its home market before expanding into Europe and beyond. Its flagship innovation, the Sentire® Endoscopic Surgical System, is revolutionising robotic-assisted surgery by overcoming traditional limits like long recovery times and surgeon fatigue. As minimally invasive procedures in China are projected to hit 34.23 million by 2030, Sentire® enhances surgical precision, control, and outcomes in this expanding field.
Backed by over US$70 million in Series C funding and partnerships with top-tier academic and medical institutions, Cornerstone Robotics is advancing surgical care access worldwide. Following the 46.7% annual growth in China’s laparoscopic robot market from 2017 to 2021, Sentire® is also well-positioned to meet rising global demand for advanced surgical systems in urology, gynaecology, general, and thoracic procedures. Fuelling this momentum is a specialised team of approximately 200 engineers, independently pioneering component design and technology across four major R&D centres worldwide.
“Keeping up means continuously pushing the boundaries of robotics not just to help surgeons, but to transform the lives of patients who need it most,” shared Professor Au.
Looking ahead, Cornerstone Robotics envisions a world where access to transformative medical care isn’t bound by geography. Of the 45 million surgeries done globally each year, only 2 million use surgical robots – just 5% of total demand. By building a worldwide robot network, the company seeks to bridge that gap and connect professionals, ensuring patients everywhere receive the best care.
Surgical robotics has come a long way, proving that technology is a keystone of medical progress, but there is still much to build upon. “Keep Up for I&T Tomorrow” and join us in shaping the future of smart healthcare today.