CHINA AIMS TO LEAD THE GLOBAL ROBOTICS MARKET WITH AMBITIOUS 5-YEAR PLAN

The International Federation of Robotics has unveiled the new 5-year plan for China’s robotics industry, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in Beijing.

The report focuses on promoting innovation, making China a world leader in robot technology and industry. advance. “China is by far the world’s largest robot market in terms of annual sales and operating stock,” argues Milton Guerry, president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) who adds that “IFR’s robot density statistics are a useful indicator of China’s dynamic developments, counting the number of industrial robots per 10.000 employees: China’s robot density in manufacturing currently ranks ninth globally with 246 units, up from 25th place with 49 units just five years ago.”

From the International Federation of Robotics they further point out that the automation race in China today is mainly run by foreign robot manufacturers with a combined market share of 73%. With some volatility in the last 8 years, this participation has been constant.

In 2020, robot installations from overseas, mainly imported from Japan, Korea and Europe, grew strongly by 24% to 123,030 units. This number also includes units produced in China by non-Chinese suppliers. Chinese robot manufacturers deliver mainly to their home market, where they had a 27 % market share in 2020 with 45 347 units shipped.

Song Xiaogang, executive director and secretary general of China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA) further highlights that “China launched the second five-year development plan for the robotics industry after 2016-2020. The plan is of great significance as a guide to promote the high-quality development of China’s robotics industry during the 14th period. Robots are the key equipment of modern industry. The new 5-year plan will lead the digital development and intelligent upgrading in China as well as enable to promote the progress of global robotic technology.”

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