Robot conference a weather vane for industry
Editor's Note: Beijing is holding the 2025 World Robot Conference from Aug 8 to 12. Cohosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization, the conference has witnessed the remarkable development of the global robotics industry over the past decade, becoming an important platform for promoting international exchanges and cooperation in robotics technology and industry. Xu Xiaolan, president of the CIE, said in an interview with China Electronics News that the conference has driven new breakthroughs in the country's robotics sector, contributing to the high-quality development of both China's and the global robotics industry. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
The World Robot Conference has become a promoter, participant and witness to robots empowering thousands of industries and entering thousands of households.
In 2024, the number of robot patent applications from China accounted for two-thirds of the global total. Many core components that 10 years ago were heavily dependent on imports are now produced domestically.
Through the optimization of AI control algorithms, domestically produced robots continue to improve in stability, flexibility and coherence. Humanoid robots, which 10 years ago could only perform simple limb control, now possess a smart "brain", an agile "cerebellum" and flexible "limbs", all this while being equipped with core domestic components.
China has maintained its position as the world's largest industrial robot market for 12 consecutive years with the sales volume rising from 70,000 units in 2015 to 302,000 units in 2024.
China is also the world's largest producer of robots, with its industrial robot output rising from 33,000 units in 2015 to 556,000 units in 2023, and its service robot output reaching 10.52 million units, a year-on-year increase of 34.3 percent.
The application of industrial robots now covers 71 major categories and 236 medium categories of the national economy, with the density of robots in the manufacturing industry having risen to become the third highest in the world.
The penetration rate of service robots has increased significantly in fields such as household services, warehousing and logistics, commercial services, elderly care and assistance for the disabled, and medical rehabilitation.
It is worth mentioning that China's humanoid robots have achieved major breakthroughs in mobility and dexterity, ranking among the world's best in overall ranking, making China one of the major players in the field.
The conference provides a cooperative platform for global exports and entrepreneurs to contribute to the development of robotics. Over the past decade, the number of international supporting institutions at the conference has grown from 12 to 28, while overseas participants have increased from just over 10 to more than 80.
Over the past decade, the conference has played the role of a weather-vane in promoting the development of the robotics industry.
By holding hundreds of forums and releasing research reports, the conference has opened a "window" for robotics scholars, entrepreneurs and a broad range of science and technology professionals worldwide to understand global scientific and technological trends and gain insights into industrial development trends, playing an important role in stimulating innovation vitality, accelerating the pace of innovation, and promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation.
The conference also accelerates industrial development. The conference has been delving deeply into scenario-based needs, connecting upstream and downstream links, and promoting the rapid development of China's robotics industry.
This year, representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Nepal and Cameroon attended the event, voicing their needs for robot application scenarios and cooperation, effectively helping enterprises expand into overseas markets.
