{"id":15663,"date":"2025-03-28T16:07:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T16:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=15663"},"modified":"2025-04-23T08:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:48:05","slug":"chinas-robotics-industry-ambition-investment-modernisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/chinas-robotics-industry-ambition-investment-modernisation\/","title":{"rendered":"China’s robotics industry: Ambition, investment, modernisation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

China\u2019s robotics industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, evolving from a nation heavily reliant on imported technology to a global powerhouse in both production and adoption. It\u2019s a story of ambition, investment, and a relentless drive to modernise, with the sector now playing a pivotal role in shaping the country\u2019s economic future.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the last 10 years, the growth in China\u2019s robotics industry has been nothing short of staggering. Back in 2013, China accounted for just 14% of global industrial robot installations, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Fast forward to 2022, and that figure had soared to 52%, with 290,144 units installed in a single year. By 2023, China\u2019s robot density \u2013 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers \u2013 hit 470, overtaking Germany (429) and Japan (419), and trailing only South Korea and Singapore. This leap reflects a decade of aggressive government policies, like the \u201cMade in China 2025\u201d initiative and the 14th Five-Year Plan, which earmarked robotics as a cornerstone of industrial innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The value of this sector is equally impressive. In 2021, the Chinese Institute of Electronics pegged the robotics industry at 83.9 billion yuan (\u00a39.2 billion), split between industrial robots (44.6 billion yuan) and service robots (39.3 billion yuan). By 2022, revenue climbed to 170 billion yuan (\u00a318.6 billion), and forecasts suggest a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% through 2025. Today, the market size is estimated at around \u00a36.6 billion, with projections pointing to \u00a3375 billion globally by 2035, where China will undoubtedly claim a hefty slice. The benefits are manifold: robots boost productivity, slashing labour costs amid a shrinking workforce \u2013 China\u2019s working-age population is expected to drop from 998 million in 2014 to 800 million by 2050. They also tackle the \u201cfour D\u2019s\u201d \u2013 dirty, dangerous, dull, and dedicated tasks \u2013 freeing humans for higher-value work while driving efficiency in industries like automotive and electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading the charge are homegrown giants like Inovance, often dubbed \u201cLittle Huawei\u201d for its ex-Huawei engineering roots. Inovance has carved out a niche in industrial automation and electric vehicle motors, capturing a growing share of a market once dominated by foreign firms. Then there\u2019s Siasun, a pioneer in AI-powered robotics, and Ubtech, a Shenzhen-based firm excelling in humanoid robots and education tech. Double Ring Transmission (Shuanghuan Chuandong) is another standout, challenging Japan\u2019s dominance in precision components like RV reducers, where it holds a 14% share. These companies reflect a shift: Chinese firms now account for 47% of the domestic market, up from 28% a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n