The global robotics landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, with China emerging as a dominant force. The China robot sector, encompassing both industrial and service robots, has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade. This expansion is not merely a tale of market numbers but a structured development story underpinned by the rigorous establishment of standards, comprehensive testing regimes, and a robust certification system. These elements have collectively become the essential scaffolding supporting the industry’s journey from scale to quality, ensuring its healthy and sustainable progression on the world stage.
The vitality of the China robot market is unmistakable. Statistical data categorizes the industry into two primary domains: industrial robots and service robots. The industrial segment has been a powerhouse of growth. In 2015, the consumption of industrial robots in the China robot market stood at 70,000 units. By 2018, this figure had surged to 156,000 units, representing an average annual growth rate of 30.6%. This trajectory solidified China’s position as the world’s largest market for industrial robots for six consecutive years, with its scale exceeding one-third of the global total, far surpassing other nations and regions. Parallel to this, the service robot segment within the China robot ecosystem has also seen explosive development. Relevant data indicates that by the middle of the “13th Five-Year Plan” period in 2018, the market size for service robots in China reached $2.51 billion, marking an 88.7% increase from the initial year of the plan in 2016. This period has been characterized by the continuous emergence of new products and applications, signaling a dynamic and innovative sector.
1. Market Dynamics and the Ascent of Domestic Brands in the China Robot Sector
Propelled by enormous market demand, the technological capabilities of China’s independent robot brands have been steadily enhancing. According to statistics from the China Robot Industry Alliance, the sales volume of domestically manufactured industrial robots increased from 22,300 units in 2015 to 43,600 units in 2018, achieving an average annual growth rate of 25.1%. This demonstrates significant progress in domestic manufacturing within the China robot industry. However, an analysis of the domestic competitive landscape reveals a persistent challenge. Over 70% of the domestic market share remains occupied by foreign brands. This indicates that for domestic brand industrial robots to attain a dominant position in the home market, the journey remains arduous and long-term. The strategic blueprint for the China robot industry was clearly outlined in the “Robot Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)” jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Finance. The plan set explicit targets for 2020: an annual output of 100,000 units for independent brand industrial robots, including over 50,000 units of six-axis and above industrial robots; annual sales revenue from service robots exceeding 30 billion yuan; the cultivation of more than three internationally competitive leading enterprises; and the creation of over five robot supporting industrial clusters. This plan has provided a clear roadmap for the development of the China robot industry during the “13th Five-Year Plan” period.
| Year | Sales Volume (10,000 units) | Year-on-Year Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3.7 | 41.6% |
| 2014 | 5.8 | 56.7% |
| 2015 | 7.0 | 21.2% |
| 2016 | 9.9 | 40.3% |
| 2017 | 15.9 | 61.1% |
| 2018 | 15.6 | -1.7% |
| Year | Domestic Brand (units) | Foreign Brand (units) |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9,597 | 27,409 |
| 2014 | 16,945 | 41,054 |
| 2015 | 22,257 | 48,048 |
| 2016 | 29,144 | 60,023 |
| 2017 | 37,495 | 121,505 |
| 2018 | 43,555 | 112,696 |
2. Standards: The Cornerstone for Healthy Development of the China Robot Industry
Standards are universally recognized as the foundation for the healthy development of any industry, and the China robot sector is no exception. Among the three major international standardization organizations—the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)—only ISO has established a dedicated technical committee for robotics. ISO/TC 299, Robotics, is responsible for international standardization in this field. Concurrently, various existing product committees within IEC have also undertaken standardization work related to robot technologies in their respective domains. For instance, technical requirements for safety and performance of consumer robots like autonomous vacuum cleaners, which have entered millions of households, are addressed within IEC/TC 59 (Performance of household and similar electrical appliances) and IEC/TC 61 (Safety of household and similar electrical appliances).
ISO/TC 299 was established in 2015. It comprises 27 participating (P) members, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among others, and 10 observer (O) members, such as Poland and Pakistan. The committee’s structure includes a strategic group, a chair advisory group, a communications group, a joint working group with medical device committees, and five working groups focusing on vocabulary and characteristics, service robot safety, industrial robot safety, service robot performance, and service robot modularity. To date, ISO/TC 299 has published 23 documents, with an additional 9 standard projects underway. Furthermore, as robots are intelligent devices integrating various electronic components, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a crucial evaluation metric. The IEC’s International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) has set up Ad Hoc Group 3 (AHG 3), which has developed and published guiding documents (CISPR/1412/INF, CISPR/1421/INF, CISPR/1438/INF) to assist various technical committees in undertaking international standardization work related to robot EMC.
To better promote the construction of the national standard system for robots and robot-related technologies in China, the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) established the National Robot Standardization General Group and an Expert Advisory Group in September 2015, the same year ISO/TC 299 was formed. The General Group is tasked with formulating China’s robot standardization strategy and promotion measures, developing the framework for the China robot standard system, coordinating the technical content and attribution of robot-related national standards, and organizing the development of fundamental and common national standards, international standardization, and the application and implementation of standards. Currently, the General Group brings together representatives from 16 national professional standardization technical committees, 4 industry organizations, 19 research institutions, and 17 enterprises related to robotics in China. The Expert Advisory Group, composed of 17 renowned experts in the China robot field, provides technical consultation, offers guidance on standardization work, and proposes suggestions on major issues.
Following its establishment, the General Group conducted a review of existing robot standards in China, identifying a pressing need for standards related to testing and certification methods. In May 2017, four ministries, including SAC, NDRC, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and MIIT, jointly released the “Guidelines for the Construction of the National Robot Standard System.” This document serves as the highest-level guiding framework for robot standardization work in China. In October 2017, the “China Robot Standardization White Paper” was published. Driven by the coordination of the General Group and the issuance of these pivotal documents, the number of national standards for robots in China increased from 25 in 2016 to 54 in 2019. Concurrently, the number of national standards under development rose from 23 to 67. Notably, testing method standards serving the robot field have been rapidly supplemented. Multiple independent standards for industrial robots covering safety, electromagnetic compatibility, reliability, environmental conditions, and functional performance are slated for release in the first half of 2020. National standards for service robot electromagnetic compatibility have already been promulgated, marking a significant step forward for the China robot standards framework.
3. Strategic Layout of Testing Institutions for the China Robot Ecosystem
Under the guidance of departments including the NDRC, MIIT, SAC, and the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA), the National Robot Testing and Assessment Center (NRTAC) was established in early 2015. The NRTAC is a third-party service institution jointly founded by the state and enterprises. It integrates robot product (component) certification, testing, calibration, standardization work, training, technical consultation, talent cultivation, and journal information services. The establishment of the NRTAC provides crucial support for building a public service platform for the robot industry, enhancing the level of standardization and product quality within the China robot sector, and promoting the rapid, healthy, and orderly development of domestic robot technology.
Currently, the NRTAC comprises one headquarters, three branches, and two public service platforms, strategically covering major industrial clusters in China. The headquarters is located at the Shanghai Electric Apparatus Research Institute (Group) Co., Ltd. (SEARI). The three branches are situated at the Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The two public service platforms are located in Beijing and Wuhu. This decentralized yet coordinated structure ensures comprehensive coverage and support for the burgeoning China robot industry across different regions.
The NRTAC headquarters has completed the construction and obtained China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) authorization for a wide array of testing laboratories. These facilities include a robot整机 performance and safety laboratory, a mechanical environment laboratory, a climatic environment laboratory, a noise laboratory, an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) laboratory, an electric servo system testing laboratory, a reducer testing laboratory, a sensor testing laboratory, a controller testing laboratory, an energy storage testing laboratory, and a calibration laboratory. This extensive testing capability forms a critical backbone for quality assurance and innovation in the China robot industry.
4. Safeguarding Healthy Development: Policy, Regulation, and Certification for China Robot
While the China robot industry exhibits旺盛 demand and蓬勃 development, it has also encountered certain challenges. In recent years, some regions have experienced issues such as low-level redundant construction, leading to the “low-end” development of a high-tech industry; an overemphasis on investment attraction while neglecting independent innovation; a focus on host machine assembly over the manufacturing of key components; and prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainable development.
In response to these challenges, in December 2016, MIIT, jointly with the NDRC and CNCA, issued the “Notice on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Robot Industry,” putting forward ten guiding opinions. Subsequently, in line with the部署 of the “Robot Industry Development Plan (2016-2020),” MIIT formulated the “Industrial Robot Industry Specification Conditions.” To ensure the smooth implementation of these conditions, MIIT introduced the “Implementation Measures for the Management of the Industrial Robot Industry Specification” in July 2017. Following applications and reviews organized by provincial-level industry authorities and central enterprise groups, the first batch of 15 enterprises complying with the specification conditions was approved and announced in 2018, with a second batch of 8 enterprises announced in 2019. The National Robot Standardization General Group and the NRTAC have become key executive bodies in regulating market order and guiding the healthy and orderly development of the China robot industry.
In May 2016, with the support and guidance of CNCA, SEARI, the headquarters unit of NRTAC, took the lead in establishing the Robot Testing and Certification Alliance. The alliance operates under the management and guidance of CNCA to carry out unified testing and certification activities. In November 2016, MIIT, NDRC, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), and CNCA jointly released the “China Robot Certification (CR)” mark to the public. The CR certification encompasses three major categories: components,整机, and systems & integration. Seven certification implementation rules have been released. As of October 2019, over a hundred enterprises have actively participated in robot testing and certification, with the certification content primarily focusing on robot safety and electromagnetic compatibility. A total of 140 CR certification certificates have been issued, and relevant authorities have begun to采信 the certification results. Standards, testing, and certification for robots have become powerful tools for regulatory oversight and various industrial governance activities within the China robot sector.
5. Future Trajectory: From Scale to Intelligence in the China Robot Industry
By 2018, a total of 65 robot industrial parks were under construction or already completed across China, with concentrated clusters in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions. The “Robot Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)” set a key task to “promote major breakthroughs in iconic products such as arc welding robots, vacuum (clean) robots, human-robot collaborative robots, dual-arm robots, fire rescue robots, and surgical robots.” Over the past four years, significant progress has been made in these iconic areas. Industrial robots within the China robot ecosystem are advancing towards medium and high-end levels, while service robots are developing towards serialization and commercialization. From 2017 to 2019, the Ministry of Science and Technology consecutively established the National Key Research and Development Program “Intelligent Robot”专项, focusing on six directions: basic frontier technologies for intelligent robots, new-generation robots, key common technologies, industrial robots, service robots, and special robots.
In summary, the China robot industry is transitioning from the “Robot 1.0” phase, represented by traditional industrial robots, to the “Intelligent Robot 2.0” phase, which integrates artificial intelligence technologies such as speech, vision, decision-making, and planning. In tandem with this technological evolution, robot standardization efforts are being supplemented with standards related to reliability and intelligence. Testing capabilities are expanding into areas like functional safety and software evaluation. Furthermore, China’s CR certification bodies have established mutual recognition and cooperation with foreign certification agencies, enhancing the global integration of the China robot industry.
The upcoming “14th Five-Year Plan” period is poised to present tremendous opportunities for the China robot industry. Testing, standards, and certification will continue to serve as vital accelerators for healthy industry development, indispensable tools for industrial regulation, and the “three essential tools” for the qualitative upgrade of “Made in China with Intelligence.” The journey of the China robot sector, underpinned by this triad, is set to navigate towards greater innovation, quality, and global competitiveness.