China’s robotics industry has entered an accelerated phase of development.

　　Recently, news of the emergence of a domestically developed adaptive robot “unicorn” has gone viral online. According to reports, Feixi Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., which has reached unicorn‑level valuation, has just closed a nearly $100 million B+ round of financing.

　　Today, the application of robotics in China has become quite widespread. Beyond high-tech manufacturing, intelligent robots are being extensively deployed in sectors such as catering, logistics, finance, and education, delivering more comprehensive and precise services to these industries. Moreover, robots equipped with disinfection and sterilization capabilities have been widely used in high-risk areas during the COVID‑19 pandemic. According to data from the Development Center of the Red Cross Society of China, in the first half of this year alone, to support Shanghai’s epidemic response, the center mobilized caring enterprises to donate 47 robots specifically designed for disinfection and sterilization operations.

　　The domestic robotics industry has entered an acceleration phase.

　　A review of available data by a reporter from China City News reveals that, ten years ago, China’s robotics market was dominated by foreign‑made products and technologies, with domestic robots largely serving as agents or system integrators for foreign firms—occupying the lowest rung of the value chain. However, since the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan, China’s robotics industry has demonstrated strong growth momentum through sustained innovation and deeper application. According to data provided by the Planning Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in 2020 China’s robotics sector surpassed RMB 100 billion in operating revenue, with industrial robot output reaching 212,000 units (sets). Technological capabilities have continued to improve, with rapid advances in key technologies and components such as motion control, high‑performance servo drives, and high‑precision reducers, leading to marked enhancements in the functionality and performance of complete systems and significant expansion of integrated applications. In 2020, the density of industrial robots reached 246 units per 10,000 workers—nearly twice the global average—while service robots and specialized robots have been deployed at scale across sectors including warehousing and logistics, education and entertainment, cleaning services, security and inspection, and medical rehabilitation.

　　In addition, the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Robotics Industry” emphasizes enhancing the industry’s innovation capacity, strengthening its foundational capabilities, expanding the supply of high-end products, broadening and deepening application areas, and optimizing the industrial organizational structure.

　　Against this backdrop, China’s robotics industry has entered a phase of accelerated growth. According to data from the Qichacha app, there are currently 409,500 robotics‑related enterprises in China. Over the past decade, the number of newly registered robotics firms has risen steadily year after year: in 2019, 48,700 new companies were added, up 17.47% year on year; in 2020, 77,900 were added, a year‑on‑year increase of 59.99%; and in 2021, 123,900 were added, representing a 58.98% year‑on‑year surge. In terms of regional distribution, Guangdong Province leads with approximately 85,800 robotics‑related enterprises, followed by Jiangsu and Shandong, with 56,400 and 36,600 respectively, occupying the top three positions. At the city level, Shenzhen ranks first, home to 30,700 such firms, while Guangzhou, Suzhou, and other cities round out the top tier.

　　The importance of developing the robotics industry has been repeatedly emphasized by officials from relevant ministries and commissions.

　　At the closing ceremony of the 2021 World Robot Conference, Xin Guobin, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, pointed out that robots, as a defining hallmark of the intelligent era, are profoundly transforming human modes of production and life, having become a new engine and driving force for high-quality economic and social development, and are increasingly receiving high attention from countries around the world.

　　As the 2022 World Robot Conference, scheduled to take place in Beijing this August, draws nearer, industry analysts note that the event’s continued staging is likely to drive both volume and prices in China’s robotics sector, while also benefiting upstream core component manufacturers—such as those producing gear reducers and controllers—and spurring accelerated growth across the entire value chain.

　　Pursuing niche markets with precision services.

　　In the course of advancing China’s robotics industry, relevant national ministries and commissions have also employed various measures to stimulate corporate innovation. Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the results of its 2021 call for proposals under the “AI Industry Innovation Task Challenge” program. The “Integrated Smart Robot for Intelligent Residential Parks” project, led by Professor Leng Xiaokun of the School of Computing at Harbin Institute of Technology and founder of Leju Robotics, stood out among more than 1,200 submissions and was awarded the prestigious “Challenge Leader” designation.

　　According to reports, renowned scholars in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics—including Sun Lining, a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Engineering and Dean of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Soochow University, and Li Zhijun, a professor in the School of Computing at Harbin Institute of Technology—have served as chief experts on this project. Harbin Institute of Technology, Soochow University, and Leju Robotics have joined forces to develop an intelligent robotic operating system that seamlessly integrates humans, machines, objects, and the cloud. Leveraging mechanisms such as edge–cloud buses, runtime components, ubiquitous services, and fused perception, the system enables scenario‑driven, robot‑centric intelligent collaborative computing. By 2024, the project is expected to deliver highly intelligent service robots for residential areas, hospitals, communities, nursing homes, and other domestic settings, capable of replacing more than 80% of human labor and contributing to smart city development.

　　The project’s principal investigator, Leng Xiaokun, founded Leju Robotics in 2016. Early on, his team pioneered the development of Aelos, China’s first small-scale bipedal humanoid robot capable of fast walking. The robot also represented Chinese artificial intelligence at the “Beijing Eight Minutes” segment of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

　　However, the path from technology to commercialization is far from smooth. In an interview with a reporter from China City News, Leng Xiaokun noted that in 2016, Leju Robotics also launched a consumer‑oriented robot product. Leveraging its technological edge and cutting‑edge features, the product initially won favor among users. Yet within a few months, app‑backend analytics revealed a steady decline in usage frequency, and sales soon fell short of their initial momentum.

　　“After that, we began re‑examining what our product’s key strengths were.” Unlike the initial phase of simply building the product in isolation, Leng Xiaokun’s team identified a largely untapped market: education focused on bipedal humanoid robots. “As a systems‑level engineering endeavor, the bipedal humanoid robot serves as an integrated platform for multidisciplinary knowledge. In the early days of the AI era, it can function as a teaching tool to help cultivate and elevate high‑caliber talent in robotics,” said Leng Xiaokun. Following thorough reflection and extensive research, Leju Robotics set out to develop an AI‑education service framework centered around the bipedal humanoid robot as its primary vehicle.

　　Thanks to its cutting-edge platform and a comprehensive suite of supporting services—including a well‑structured curriculum, teacher‑training programs, and competitive‑event pathways—Leju Robotics has stood out in the rapidly growing AI education market, swiftly providing over 3,000 schools with services such as AI lab construction and smart‑school development. Moreover, leveraging its mature solutions and extensive experience in AI education, Leju Robotics has partnered with the China Red Cross Society’s Development Center to launch the “National Public‑Interest Initiative on AI Robotics for Youth,” bringing advanced science and technology education to young people across the country.

　　Addressing weaknesses to promote sustainable development.

　　In Guangdong Province, where the robotics industry is booming, some entrepreneurs have proactively positioned themselves to lay a solid foundation for their businesses. As early as 2016, Qin Lei, founder of Guangdong Huibo Robot Technology Co., Ltd., led a team specializing in robot R&D and operations to a publicly listed company in Guangdong’s building materials sector, undertaking a comprehensive and integrated smart‑upgrade transformation of the enterprise’s manufacturing facilities.

　　Before the transformation, Qin Lei had heard plenty of skeptical voices: “Is such an advanced approach really feasible?” and “Shouldn’t traditional manufacturing still rely on manual labor?” Yet once the entire plant completed its smart‑manufacturing upgrade, process parameters became stable and fully controllable, and, with headcount reduced, per‑employee productivity tripled—remarkable results that decisively dispelled earlier doubts. In particular, the deployment of robotics has enabled workers in certain roles to escape harsh, heavily polluted environments characterized by high dust levels, extreme temperatures, high humidity, and excessive noise, thereby significantly lowering the incidence of occupational diseases such as pneumoconiosis—a development widely praised by factory employees.

　　The growing maturity of robotics has transformed production and operational practices across a wide range of industries. However, some argue that the widespread adoption of new technologies will drive enterprises toward labor‑free operations, leading to a substantial reduction in employment opportunities. In response, Qin Lei points out that, at present, robots have primarily replaced human roles in large, formal‑sector enterprises. Meanwhile, small and medium‑sized enterprises dominate China’s manufacturing landscape, and their transition to intelligent systems is still in its early stages, so overall penetration remains relatively limited.

　　“It should be noted that the development and application of robotics are in line with the trends of our times; its emergence will give rise to new, more specialized technical roles, rather than competing with humans for jobs,” said Qin Lei. In his view, replacing human labor with robots not only maximizes efficiency by reducing costs, improving quality, and stabilizing output, but also embodies a deeper commitment to corporate social responsibility and sparks important discussions about humanity’s ultimate liberation in the course of societal progress. “This approach also aligns with China’s relevant policies and will help accelerate the country’s transition from a major industrial manufacturer to an industrial powerhouse.”

　　In recent years, routine COVID‑19 prevention and control has become one of the primary tasks across various regions. Qin Lei recognized that robots could play a crucial role in safeguarding medical personnel and conducting precise disinfection and testing. Following research, development, and modifications, he and his team donated batches of intelligent disinfection robots to the China Red Cross Society’s Center for Development of Public Welfare, and these products have since proven their value in epidemic‑response efforts in Shanghai, Beijing, and other locations.

　　Although the robotics industry is accelerating its growth, Qin Lei firmly believes that numerous shortcomings still need to be addressed. “For example, there’s a shortage of both talent and funding,” he notes. “The sector faces a severe lack of engineers and technical professionals in design and R&D. Moreover, compared with the earlier wave when massive capital poured into the internet and mobile‑value‑added industries, today’s investment in the AI‑robotics field remains scant, and success stories—so‑called ‘wealth‑creation myths’—are few. With insufficient talent and limited R&D funding, a vicious cycle emerges. Adding to this are weaker core technologies relative to those in Europe and the United States, as well as inadequate supporting capabilities. These issues drive up R&D and production costs, result in uneven technological levels, and have imposed varying degrees of negative impact on the industry’s development.” In response, Qin Lei recommends that relevant government agencies step up support for talent development, policy initiatives, and financial resources, thereby further enhancing both the quality and pace of the robotics industry’s growth.