"Made in China 2025" stands at a new historical height, adopting a strategic and holistic approach to clearly outline the action plan for the first decade of China's strategy to become a manufacturing powerhouse. It identifies "high-end CNC machine tools and robots" as one of the key areas to be vigorously promoted, emphasizing that the development of the robotics industry should "focus on meeting the demands of industrial robot applications across sectors such as automotive, machinery, electronics, hazardous materials manufacturing, defense, chemicals, and light industry, as well as service robot applications in healthcare, home services, education, and entertainment. This includes proactively developing cutting-edge new products, fostering standardized and modular advancements, and expanding market adoption. Crucially, it calls for breakthroughs in core technologies and system integration—specifically tackling technical bottlenecks related to robot bodies, gear reducers, servo motors, controllers, sensors, and drive systems." Furthermore, the roadmap for technological innovation in key areas explicitly highlights that China’s robotics industry over the next decade will primarily focus on two major directions: first, developing a series of standardized industrial robot bodies and critical components to accelerate the commercialization and widespread application of industrial robots, thereby addressing the urgent need for transformation and upgrading in China’s manufacturing sector; and second, achieving breakthroughs in advanced intelligent robotics technologies, with the goal of creating a portfolio of smart robotic solutions capable of effectively responding to the challenges posed by the ongoing wave of technological innovation and industrial transformation.

　　1. Be demand-driven, strengthen innovation capabilities, and expand market applications.

　　According to the application environment, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) categorizes robots into two main types: industrial robots for manufacturing settings and service robots designed for non-manufacturing environments. Industrial robots are a general term for machines used in industrial production and serve as crucial factory automation tools in modern manufacturing. In contrast, service robots are non-productive robots that assist humans in various tasks. Primarily deployed in unstructured environments with relatively complex structures, service robots rely on their onboard sensors and communication systems to gather information about the external surroundings, enabling them to make informed decisions and carry out specific operational tasks effectively.

　　1. China has become the world’s largest industrial robot market, yet its potential remains largely untapped.

　　Industrial robots primarily refer to multi-joint manipulators or multi-degree-of-freedom robots designed for industrial applications, used in various aspects of the manufacturing process, such as material handling, welding, assembly, machining, painting, and clean production. In 2014, global sales of industrial robots reached a record high of 225,000 units, representing a 27% year-on-year increase. The primary driver of this market growth was the Asia region, particularly China and South Korea.

　　In recent years, China's robotics market has experienced rapid growth and has emerged as a key global hub for robotics demand. In 2014, industrial robot sales in China reached 56,000 units, representing a remarkable 52% year-on-year increase—and once again cementing the country as the world’s largest industrial robot market. Meanwhile, the user base has expanded beyond predominantly foreign-owned or Sino-foreign joint-venture enterprises, now increasingly including domestically funded companies and even small-to-medium-sized businesses. Many enterprises located in China’s highly developed coastal industrial regions produce goods primarily for export, placing stringent demands on product quality. As a result, more and more companies are turning to robots to replace manual laborers. In the Pearl River Delta region, the annual growth rate of industrial robot adoption has already surged to 30%, particularly driving a booming trend in sectors such as assembly, dispensing, material handling, and welding.

　　Although China has been the world’s largest market for industrial robots since 2013, the density of industrial robots in its manufacturing sector remains relatively low. In 2013, China’s industrial robot density stood at just 30 units per 10,000 manufacturing workers—less than half the global average—and significantly lower compared to countries with higher levels of industrial automation, such as South Korea (437 units per 10,000 workers), Japan (323 units per 10,000 workers), and Germany (282 units per 10,000 workers). This highlights the substantial untapped potential still available in China’s domestic industrial robotics market.

　　As a major manufacturing country, China has historically lagged behind in the application of industrial robots. Outside the automotive industry, the widespread adoption of robotics in general manufacturing sectors has largely remained spontaneous, fragmented, or limited to isolated cases. However, with the growing momentum of factory automation in China, industrial robots are poised for rapid expansion into other key industries—such as electronics, metal products, rubber and plastics, food processing, building materials, civilian explosives, aerospace, and medical equipment—among others.

　　The extent of industrial robot adoption is a key indicator of a country's level of industrial automation. China's development of industrial robots should align closely with the growing demand for intelligent manufacturing, fostering collaboration between robotics suppliers and users. On one hand, this involves enhancing the innovation capabilities of China's robot-manufacturing enterprises, promoting standardization, modularity, and systematization in robot development, reducing operational costs, and elevating the sophistication of integrated applications—thereby expanding the market reach of these technologies. On the other hand, it calls for actively piloting domestically branded robotic solutions, focusing on a select group of high-impact, highly influential, and strategically relevant demonstration projects that can serve as models to drive broader adoption. Ultimately, this approach will help leverage industrial robots to modernize and upgrade traditional manufacturing sectors across the board.

　　2. China's service robot industry should be demand-driven and pursue targeted, strategic development.

　　Service robots include specialized service robots and home-use service robots. These robots have a wide range of applications, primarily focusing on maintenance, repair, transportation, cleaning, security, rescue, monitoring, as well as tasks in healthcare, elderly care, rehabilitation, and assistive services for people with disabilities. As a new type of intelligent equipment and a strategic high-tech product, service robots are poised to capture even greater market potential in the future compared to industrial robots.

　　Global service robots have shown rapid growth over the past five years. According to statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), in 2013, global sales of professional service robots and personal/household service robots reached 21,000 units and 4 million units, respectively, with market values of $3.57 billion and $1.7 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 4% and 28%, respectively. In the coming years, the global market for service robots is expected to continue its robust expansion. Thanks to significant breakthroughs in robot technologies like mutual learning and knowledge-sharing cloud systems, the production costs of small, home-based assistive robots have plummeted—setting the stage for an emerging market worth at least $41.6 billion cumulatively by 2020. Meanwhile, although disability-assist robots are still in their early stages, they are poised for rapid growth over the next two decades.

　　Currently, the research and development of service robots on the international stage is primarily led by five countries: the United States, Japan, China, Germany, and South Korea. In China, the development of service robots lags behind that of industrial robots. Compared to nations like Japan and the U.S., China started its R&D efforts in the service robot sector relatively late, leaving a significant gap compared to developed countries. However, when it comes to industrial robots, the gap between China and other global leaders is already narrower. Service robots typically require customization to meet specific market needs, making it easier for domestic companies to tailor their products to unique local environments and cultural contexts—thus enabling them to secure strong market positioning and maintain a competitive edge. On the other hand, foreign service robot companies are also operating in an emerging industry, with most having been established only recently. As a result, China's service robot industry stands at the cusp of substantial opportunities and ample room for growth.

　　From a developmental perspective, China's professional service robots are expected to achieve industrialization ahead of personal/home-use robots—particularly in areas like medical robotics and inspection/exploration robots designed for hazardous or specialized environments. As China enters an aging society, the growing demand for medical care, nursing, and rehabilitation will drive innovation in this sector. Meanwhile, rising consumer aspirations for higher quality of life will further expand the market potential for personal/home-use robots in the future.

　　2. Break through technological bottlenecks and enhance industrialization capabilities

　　Robots integrate modern manufacturing technology, advanced materials technology, and information control techniques, making them a flagship product of intelligent manufacturing. Their research and development, production, and application have become key indicators for measuring a nation’s innovation capabilities and manufacturing prowess, earning significant attention from the world’s leading manufacturing powers.

　　China's robotics industry can trace its origins back to the 1980s, when the Ministry of Science and Technology included industrial robots in its key scientific and technological research programs. At that time, the former Ministry of Machinery Industry took the lead in organizing efforts to develop various types of industrial robots, such as spot welders, arc welders, painting robots, and material-handling units. Other government departments also actively supported these initiatives, sparking the first major surge in China’s industrial robotics sector. However, following this initial boom, the industry experienced a prolonged period of stagnation, primarily driven by shifting market demands. It wasn’t until after 2010 that China saw a steady increase in robot installations, marking the beginning of a comprehensive push toward developing the entire robotics value chain—from R&D to manufacturing and beyond.

　　The development of the robotics industry encompasses R&D testing, the industrialization of robot bodies and components, system integration technologies, and service offerings—each stage playing a critical role. For China, advancing the robotics industry chain is a long and challenging journey. Currently, most Chinese robotics companies are concentrated in the integration sector, with manufacturing and assembly firms forming the majority. In terms of original research on core and cutting-edge technologies, highly reliable foundational components, advanced system-level application solutions, and large-scale production of robotic systems, China still lags significantly behind developed nations. Particularly in key areas like precision reducers, servo motors, and drivers, the country relies heavily on imports. Although the government has invested significantly in these fields over the years, the relatively small market size and low level of industrialization have so far failed to create sufficient momentum for developing core components, resulting in less-than-ideal outcomes.

　　It is clear that China's insufficient robotic technology capabilities are holding back the scale of industrialization, while the relatively small industry size, in turn, hampers further technological advancement—both factors ultimately slowing down the overall progress of robotics commercialization. To enhance the market competitiveness of domestically produced robots, we must first ramp up domestic robot production and boost the manufacturing capacity of local robotics companies. At the same time, it’s crucial to accelerate the localization of key robotic components, strengthening domestic production capabilities to meet the growing demand driven by the expansion of China’s robot manufacturing capacity.

　　In the past two years, the nation has placed significant emphasis on intelligent manufacturing and robotics. Multiple ministries—including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology—have been actively promoting the growth of the robotics industry. Efforts are being made across various fronts, such as top-level design, fiscal and financial support, demonstration applications, and talent development, to boost the growth of domestically branded robotic products. Moreover, supportive policies are becoming increasingly comprehensive and detailed. Meanwhile, China’s Robotics Industry Roadmap and related work under the “13th Five-Year Plan” for the robotics sector are steadily advancing. These initiatives will play a crucial role in helping Chinese robotics companies overcome technological barriers and enhance their industrialization capabilities.

　　For China’s robotics industry today, the question is no longer about whether to prioritize it or not—but rather how we view this industry, and with what mindset we nurture and foster its orderly growth. Regarding various aspects such as market demand, innovation-driven models, and funding support mechanisms, local governments are expected to refine their supportive policies for the sector even further.

　　3. Accelerate the research and development and production of next-generation robots, seizing the next strategic advantage in robotics technology and industry development.

　　With the advancement of robotics technology, robots are now categorized into two main types based on their functionality: general-purpose robots and intelligent robots. General-purpose robots are those equipped primarily with standard programming capabilities and basic operational functions—most of the robots currently produced in China fall into this category. Intelligent robots, on the other hand, lack a universally accepted definition, though most experts agree that they should at least possess the following key features: 1. The ability to adapt to uncertain working conditions; 2. Flexible manipulation skills for handling complex objects; 3. Strong coordination and collaboration capabilities with humans; 4. Natural interaction abilities that enable seamless communication with people; 5. Safety features that ensure secure human-robot cooperation. Whether it’s modern industrial robots or service-oriented ones, the ultimate goal is to evolve into highly intelligent, learning-capable machines—what we commonly refer to as "next-generation robots." Thanks to continuous advancements in technologies like 3D visual perception and cognition, as well as innovations in force-sensing sensors, these next-generation robots are set to become even more sophisticated. By integrating deeply with cutting-edge IT developments such as the Industrial Internet, cloud computing, and big data, their intelligence will reach new heights. This will enhance their ability to perceive the environment dynamically and precisely, enabling them to tackle complex, time-sensitive tasks, collaborate effectively in multi-robot systems, and work harmoniously alongside humans.

　　To further capture international markets and enhance the global competitiveness of their manufacturing sectors, leading economic powers are eagerly stepping up efforts, each formulating ambitious development plans aimed at securing a pioneering edge in advanced robotics technology. Currently, the German government is spearheading its "Industry 4.0" strategy, focusing on building "smart factories" and enabling "intelligent production." A key priority within this initiative is fostering seamless interaction and collaboration between humans and machines, as well as among machines themselves. Meanwhile, in 2013, the U.S. unveiled its "U.S. Robotics Development Roadmap," which centers on overcoming critical challenges in manufacturing—such as developing robots with enhanced adaptability and reconfigurable assembly capabilities, enabling dexterous human-like manipulation, advancing model-based integration and supply chain design, improving autonomous navigation, refining perception in unstructured environments, enhancing education and training programs, and ensuring the fundamental safety of human-robot collaboration. In early 2015, Japan introduced its "New Robotics Strategy for Japan," outlining a comprehensive five-year action plan that explicitly emphasizes research and development of next-generation robotic technologies, including data terminalization, networking, and cloud computing. Meanwhile, South Korea has rolled out several strategic policies in recent years to bolster the R&D and commercialization of third-generation intelligent robots. Notably, in 2012, South Korea released its "Robotics Future Strategy Vision 2022," with a clear policy focus on supporting domestic companies in expanding into global markets and seizing early opportunities in the industrialization of smart robotics. Driven by robust initiatives from tech powerhouses like the U.S., Japan, and Europe, the past five years have witnessed a steady surge in next-generation robotic prototypes, demonstration applications, and even fully functional practical systems.

　　Currently, in China, the demand market for next-generation industrial robots has yet to fully mature. However, there is an urgent need for strategically important, foundational R&D and technology reserves. As China moves forward with developing its next-generation robotics industry, the priority should be to strengthen the technological base of the robotics sector, accelerate the industrialization of existing robotic technologies, and expedite the adoption and deployment of domestically branded robots in the domestic market. Moreover, it’s essential to explore innovative R&D models, encouraging research institutions and enterprises to leverage their respective strengths. By collaborating across multiple stakeholders, we can establish a national-level platform dedicated to cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary R&D and technology reserves for next-generation industrial robots. This platform must be tailored to China’s unique national conditions and market demands, enabling breakthroughs in core next-generation robotic technologies. Ultimately, this will lead to the development of prototype systems and commercial products, paving the way for full-scale industrialization and helping China secure a leading global position in next-generation robotics. For robot products targeting diverse application areas, distinct development strategies should be implemented: On one hand, companies should serve as the driving force, supported by shared technology platforms, with a focus on advancing next-generation industrial robots. This approach will facilitate closer alignment between supply and demand, ensuring that China captures critical growth opportunities. On the other hand, market-driven strategies should be adopted to meet specific domestic needs, particularly in sectors like healthcare, elderly care, disability assistance, and specialized robotics designed for challenging operational environments.