In the dynamic landscape of global manufacturing and technological advancement, the China robot sector has emerged as a focal point of growth and innovation. The recent “2016 China Robot Industry Promotion Conference” held in Wuhu, Anhui, served as a platform for industry leaders to dissect trends and chart the future. During this event, our publication had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Qu Daokui, President of SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. and Chairman of the China Robot Industry Alliance. A pivotal figure in the China robot landscape, Dr. Qu shared profound insights on the industry’s evolution, challenges, and strategic direction, emphasizing the critical need to avoid the degradation of a high-tech sector into low-end production.
Dr. Qu Daokui, born in 1961, is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, founder and president of SIASUN, and Deputy Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Robots. His extensive roles include Chairman of the National Robot Standardization Overall Group, Chairman of the China Robot Innovation Alliance, Chairman of the China Robot Industry Alliance, and the first rotating chairman of the China Intelligent Manufacturing System Solution Supplier Alliance, among others. A recipient of numerous awards including the China Youth Science and Technology Award, his perspectives are rooted in deep technical expertise and leadership within the China robot ecosystem.
The China robot industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by national initiatives like “Made in China 2025” and the “Robot Industry Development Plan (2016-2020).” However, this rapid expansion brings both opportunities and risks. Dr. Qu’s analysis provides a roadmap for sustainable development, focusing on strategic mergers, technological balance, and navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The following sections delve into his key observations, structured to highlight the multifaceted nature of the China robot journey.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: Distinguishing “Physical Reactions” from “Chemical Reactions”
The year 2016 witnessed a global wave of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, with the robot industry being no exception. Dr. Qu addressed this trend, noting that in an era of rapid change, companies often face a choice between internal expansion and growth through M&A. For the China robot sector, acquisitions can be a powerful tool to scale influence and capability. However, he cautioned that M&A is not without pitfalls, citing failures among international giants where integrations went awry. Therefore, any acquisition must be approached with careful deliberation and strategic foresight.
Dr. Qu offered a vivid analogy to explain the two potential outcomes of M&A within the China robot industry. The first is a “physical reaction,” where an “outsider” acquires an “insider” primarily for capital purposes without meaningful technological integration. This results merely in a quantitative addition—a stacking of assets—without generating synergistic value or advancing core competencies in the China robot domain. It is a superficial change, akin to a physical transformation where elements coexist but do not fundamentally alter each other’s nature.
The second, more desirable outcome is a “chemical reaction.” This occurs when an “insider” in the China robot field acquires another specialized, often smaller, technology-driven firm. Here, the collision of cultures and technologies fosters deep integration, leading to innovative breakthroughs and enhanced technical prowess. This transformative process strengthens the acquiring China robot company, enabling it to develop more advanced solutions and compete more effectively on a global scale. Dr. Qu emphasized that for leading China robot enterprises and high-tech firms, M&A represents a viable growth path, given their advantages: access to the vast domestic market, abundant capital reserves, and a growing technological foundation. Nonetheless, he underscored that post-merger management and integration are critical success factors that must never be neglected in the China robot industry’s consolidation phase.
- The “Pros” and “Cons” of Domestic China Robots: A Reality Check
The development of the China robot industry evokes both optimism and concern. A frequent point of discussion is the dependency on imported key components, such as precision reducers. For instance, harmonic reducers are largely dominated by Japanese manufacturers, with few global players offering reliable, large-scale production. The China robot sector started research on these components relatively late, leading to a significant technological gap and heavy reliance on imports, which constrains the autonomous development of industrial robots in China.
Dr. Qu acknowledged this bottleneck but advised against overemphasizing it in isolation. He pointed out that without achieving economies of scale in production, domestic components struggle to compete on price and quality. While many believe that key components dictate robot performance and should be the immediate priority, Dr. Qu argued that a more balanced approach is essential for the China robot industry. He suggested that developing complete robot systems first can naturally drive component advancement, as it follows objective market and technical evolution patterns. This path allows for more robust technology accumulation and knowledge building. Thus, the China robot strategy should avoid a narrow focus and instead promote holistic,均衡 development across the entire value chain.
On the positive side, statistical data paints a promising picture for the China robot market. According to the China Robot Industry Alliance, domestic industrial robot sales continued to surge in 2016. In the first half of the year, cumulative sales reached 19,257 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 37.7% on a comparable basis. Factoring in new entrants and previously established R&D firms beginning production, the actual growth rate was 70.8%. This sustained high growth underscores the China robot industry’s upward trajectory, fueled by national policies that encourage product structure upgrading and industrial improvement.
The rise of China robot companies on the global stage is notable. Once peripheral, the China robot sector has, within five years, transformed into the world’s largest robot market, drawing international attention. SIASUN, for example, ranks among the top three in global market capitalization within the industry. Its product portfolio spans five major categories with over 80 types of robots: industrial robots, mobile robots, cleanroom robots, special robots, and service robots. Notably, SIASUN’s industrial robots lead in performance; its cleanroom robots are the sole domestic supplier, breaking monopolies held by Japan, Korea, and Western nations; and its mobile robots command over 90% of the domestic market share in automotive and power sectors, with products exported worldwide. Reports indicate that SIASUN’s China robot products have been exported to 23 developed countries and regions, with more than two-thirds of its customers being foreign-funded enterprises, demonstrating the growing international footprint of China robot technology.
However, this growth is not without its shadows. Dr. Qu repeatedly warned against the phenomenon of “high-end industry becoming low-end.” The China robot industry is inherently high-tech, yet many firms are channeling efforts into easily accessible, quick-return low-end projects. This has led to market congestion with low-end products, triggering vicious price competition and undermining the healthy, sustainable development of the China robot ecosystem. The industry exhibits an imbalanced structure, characterized by “small, scattered, and weak” entities, partly due to policy pushes and market speculation. Thus, while the China robot market expands, maintaining quality and innovation is paramount to avoid degradation.
Snapshot of China Robot Industry Performance (First Half of 2016) Metric Data Notes Domestic Industrial Robot Sales (Units) 19,257 Cumulative sales Year-on-Year Growth (Comparable Basis) 37.7% Accelerated by 10.2 percentage points from previous year Actual Growth (Including New Entrants) 70.8% Reflects market expansion and new production capacity Number of Industries Served 37 major categories, 91 middle categories Widening application scope for China robot solutions Top Application Sector: 3C Manufacturing 30% of total sales Includes computer, communication, and electronic device manufacturing; share increased by nearly 20 percentage points year-on-year Second Top Sector: Automotive Manufacturing 12.6% of total sales Includes auto parts and whole vehicle manufacturing The application breadth of China robot technology is expanding rapidly. Domestic industrial robots now serve 37 major industry categories and 91 middle categories, encompassing sectors from food processing and beverage manufacturing to pharmaceuticals, non-metallic mineral products, chemical raw materials, specialized equipment, electrical machinery, metal products, and rubber and plastics. The dominance of 3C manufacturing and automotive industries highlights the critical role of China robot automation in high-volume, precision-driven fields. This diversification signals the adaptability and integration potential of China robot systems across the economy.
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution: “Opportunities” and “Challenges” for China Robot
The concept of “overtaking on a curve” is often cited in discussions about technological leapfrogging. However, Dr. Qu prefers the term “major opportunity period” to describe the current state of the China robot industry. He noted that global industrial models are undergoing transformative change, with robotics at the forefront. The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, or the “Second Machine Revolution,” is reshaping production paradigms. The first machine revolution emphasized mass, rigid, and规模化 production, liberating workers from monotonous labor. In contrast, the fourth revolution heralds “industrial intelligence” and “integration,” demanding flexible, small-batch, and customized production. This shift requires robots with enhanced感知 capabilities, making sensors a core component of future industrial robots. Traditional robots, programmable multi-degree-of-freedom machines, are limited to specific environments. The next generation of China robot technology must adapt to dynamic, complex workplaces, performing intricate tasks with greater autonomy.
Opportunities for China robot adoption abound across numerous sectors. As indicated in the table above, the penetration of China robot solutions is broadening. Beyond 3C and automotive, emerging applications in agriculture, food services, pharmaceuticals, and有色金属冶炼 showcase the versatility of China robot automation. This expansion is driven by the need for efficiency, precision, and cost reduction, positioning the China robot industry as a key enabler of modern manufacturing and beyond.
Yet, opportunities coexist with significant challenges. The promising前景 of the China robot market has attracted a influx of players, including underprepared firms, leading to low-level重复建设. Coupled with excessive enthusiasm from some local governments, this has resulted in a “small, scattered, and chaotic” industrial landscape. Such fragmentation is detrimental to the overall development of the China robot sector. Dr. Qu emphasized that robotics is a典型 “three-high” industry: high technology intensity, high talent intensity, and high capital intensity. Therefore, rational governance and support from local authorities are crucial. China robot companies must formulate strategies based on their unique strengths, enhancing innovation capabilities, attracting top talent, and deploying capital wisely to build sustainable competitive advantages. Only through strategic布局 can the China robot industry navigate this critical juncture, ensuring stable and far-reaching progress.
The future of the China robot industry hinges on balancing scale with sophistication. As Dr. Qu’s insights reveal, avoiding the “low-end” trap requires a concerted effort to foster high-value innovation, strategic mergers that create chemical reactions, and a holistic approach to technological development. The China robot journey is not just about market size but about elevating the entire ecosystem to compete on quality, intelligence, and integration. With the right policies, corporate discipline, and focus on core technologies, the China robot sector can truly capitalize on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, transforming from a volume leader into a global innovation powerhouse.
In summary, the interview with Dr. Qu Daokui sheds light on the pivotal dynamics shaping the China robot industry. From M&A strategies to component debates and revolutionary shifts, the path forward demands vigilance against low-end dilution and a commitment to high-end growth. The data underscores rapid expansion, but the qualitative aspects—innovation, integration, and intelligent adaptation—will determine the long-term success of China robot enterprises. As the world watches, the China robot community stands at a threshold, poised to redefine automation standards while navigating the complexities of a transformative era.