China Is Close to Leading in Robotics Innovation, New ITIF Analysis Finds
WASHINGTON—The United States has a reputation for innovation in advanced industries, while China is thought to be a follower. But when it comes to robotic innovation, it is only a matter of time before Chinese firms become leading innovators, according to a new analysis from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
ITIF conducted an in-depth sectoral analysis of China’s robotics industry, assessing global data on robotics innovation, such as scientific articles and patents, and conducting case study evaluations of four top Chinese robotics companies—Ecovacs Robotics, Beijing Roborock, Estun Automatic, and Saisun—with interviews and focus group roundtables with global experts on the Chinese robotics industry. The analysis concludes that China is not yet a leader in robotic innovation, but its domestic production and adoption are growing rapidly, and the Chinese government has prioritized the industry, so it is likely only a matter of time before Chinese robotics companies catch up to the leading edge.
“The United States invented robotics, but like so many other industries it lost leadership to foreign competitors,” said Robert D. Atkinson, president of ITIF and author of the report. “Companies in many other nations were willing to invest for the long haul. Now, America will not restore its robotics industry if most of the demand for robotics is outside the U.S., especially as China catches up.”
ITIF’s analysis of innovation in China’s robotics industry is the first report in a series. Coming installments will assess other strategically important industries, including chemicals, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, and autos.
China is already the largest industrial robot market in the world, accounting for 52 percent of robot installations globally in 2022. Comparing countries’ robot adoption rates to the adoption rates that would be expected based on manufacturing wage levels, ITIF’s analysis shows that China leads the world with an astounding 12.5 times more robots adopted than expected, up from 1.6 times more in 2017. The United States has just 70 percent of its expected robot adoption rate given its manufacturing wages.
Yet while the robots that Chinese firms produce generally do not match the quality of the best Western companies, they usually have a price advantage. The Chinese Communist Party has made manufacturing robot adoption a top priority, backing it up with generous subsidies. Moreover, ITIF’s analysis finds China now files almost three times more robotic patents than the United States. So, it is likely that China will become as innovative as foreign robotic producers, while also maintaining a significant cost advantage.
“Robotics is one of the most important advanced technology industries of our time and will play an increasingly important role in the world economy,” said Atkinson. “While China still lags behind the U.S. in robotics from an innovation standpoint, they do outperform the U.S. in investment. American policymakers need to paint a robot-intensive vision for the U.S. where robotics plays a key role in boosting productivity, increasing safety, and enhancing quality of life.”
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The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute focusing on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. Recognized by its peers in the think tank community as the global center of excellence for science and technology policy, ITIF’s mission is to formulate and promote policy solutions that accelerate innovation and boost productivity to spur growth, opportunity, and progress.
