In an era marked by rapid demographic shifts, China is confronting the challenges of an aging society head-on, with national policymakers and industry leaders advocating for innovative solutions to address the growing needs of its senior population. Among these, the proposal to designate olderly care robots as a pivotal direction for developing new quality productivity has emerged as a focal point, garnering significant attention during the country’s annual legislative sessions.
The Aging Population Crisis: A Pressing National Challenge
As of the end of 2024, China’s population of individuals aged 60 and above has reached 310 million, constituting 22% of the total national population. Projections indicate that this number will exceed 400 million by 2035, accounting for over 30% of the population, with the aging trend expected to peak around 2050. This demographic shift poses profound social and economic implications, pressing the nation to devise sustainable strategies to support its aging citizens while maintaining economic vitality.
National People’s Congress (NPC) deputy and Chairman of Jiangsu Zongyi Group, Zan Shengda, has been a vocal advocate for addressing aging-related challenges through technological innovation. For years, Zan has dedicated himself to researching solutions for an aging society, culminating in his proposal to prioritize the development of olderly care robots as a critical component of new quality productivity. “The aging process coincides with key milestones in China’s journey toward national rejuvenation,” Zan noted. “Actively addressing population aging is not just a social issue but a strategic imperative for our modernization drive.”
Policy Backdrop: Laying the Groundwork for Innovation
Zan’s proposal builds on a foundation of policy initiatives aimed at tackling aging. In 2020, during the Third Session of the 13th National People’s Congress, he submitted six key recommendations for responding to an aging society, emphasizing the need for multifaceted solutions that integrate social policy and technological advancement. His efforts were further validated in November 2021 when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council jointly issued Guidelines on Strengthening Aging Work in the New Era. This landmark document outlined a comprehensive framework for addressing aging, stressing the importance of charting a Chinese-style path to active aging.
In 2024, the state introduced its first specialized policy supporting the silver economy, a development that inspired Zan to seek synergies between solving aging-related challenges and fostering economic growth. “The silver economy presents both a social responsibility and an economic opportunity,” he stated. “Olderly care robots can bridge these two domains, offering practical solutions for senior care while driving innovation and industrial upgrading.”
Technological Readiness: China’s Edge in the Robot Industry
A critical factor driving Zan’s proposal is China’s growing dominance in the global robotics landscape. The country currently holds a 63% market share in the global humanoid robot industry, a testament to its technological prowess and manufacturing capabilities. High-profile achievements, such as Unitree Robotics’ robot performances during the Spring Festival Gala and the success of Tian Gong’s running humanoid robot, have demonstrated China’s capacity to lead in robotic innovation.
These advancements, Zan argues, signal that the time is ripe to accelerate the development of olderly care robots. “The confluence of technological maturity, market demand, and policy support creates a unique window of opportunity,” he explained. “By positioning olderly care robots as a pillar of new quality productivity, we can leverage existing strengths to address urgent societal needs while fostering a new growth engine for the economy.”
Key Proposals: Three Core Initiatives and Supporting Mechanisms
Zan’s recommendations center on three core engineering projects, two supporting mechanisms, and the cultivation of an innovative application ecosystem.
1. Establishing Industrial Funds for Core Component R&D
To address technological bottlenecks, Zan proposes the creation of a large-scale industrial fund jointly financed by the central government, powerful state-owned enterprises, and provincial-level governments with strong fiscal capabilities. This fund would focus on supporting research and development (R&D) of core components for olderly care robots, such as tactile sensors and computing power. Additionally, provincial, municipal, and county-level governments are encouraged to set up specialized industry funds for direct investment in the sector, fostering a multi-layered funding network that accelerates technological breakthroughs.
2. Pilot Projects for Scenario-Driven Innovation
Zan advocates for launching pilot projects in regions with high aging rates and advanced technological infrastructure, such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing, Shanghai, and Heilongjiang Province. These “smart robot elderly care communities” would serve as demonstration zones to test and refine the functionality of olderly care robots, focusing on enhancing user experience and expanding service capabilities. By immersing robots in real-world senior care scenarios, developers can identify gaps and iterate on designs, ensuring that the final products meet the practical needs of elderly users.
3. Building Standardization Systems and Ethical Frameworks
A crucial aspect of Zan’s proposal is the establishment of standardized monitoring systems to safeguard privacy and data security in elderly care robotics. He emphasizes strict accountability for privacy breaches, calling for legal and regulatory measures to penalize violations. Concurrently, the development of Ethical Guidelines for Robot Nursing and standards for compensating personal injuries caused by robot accidents would help define ethical boundaries and liability frameworks, ensuring that technological innovation is accompanied by robust safeguards for users.
Cultivating an Innovative Ecosystem: Collaboration and Integration
Zan stresses the importance of fostering a cross-disciplinary innovation ecosystem to drive continuous improvement in olderly care robotics. This involves forming “government-industry-academia-medical” consortia to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaborative R&D. By breaking down silos between different sectors, these partnerships can accelerate technological iteration, promote interoperability with other smart devices, and create a more convenient and comfortable smart living environment for the elderly.
Additionally, efforts to complete and strengthen the olderly care robot industry chain are critical to reducing production and maintenance costs. This includes upstream suppliers of core components, midstream manufacturers, and downstream service providers, all of whom must work in tandem to achieve economies of scale. Zan also highlights the need to popularize smart elderly care education through long-term training programs, with a goal of cultivating 1 million certified “silver digital counselors” within five years. These professionals would play a vital role in helping seniors adapt to and utilize robotic care solutions, bridging the digital divide and enhancing adoption rates.
The Road Ahead: Balancing Innovation and Inclusivity
As China advances its agenda to integrate olderly care robots into its new quality productivity framework, challenges remain, including ethical considerations, cost barriers, and public acceptance. However, Zan’s proposal underscores the potential for these technologies to transform senior care, offering scalable solutions that alleviate pressure on family caregivers and social welfare systems while empowering older adults to live more independent and dignified lives.
“The development of olderly care robots is not just about technology; it’s about reimagining how we care for our elderly and build a more inclusive society,” Zan concluded. “By harnessing our technological strengths and policy flexibility, we can create a model that combines social care with economic innovation, setting a global benchmark for addressing aging in the 21st century.”
In an era where demographic change is a universal challenge, China’s focus on olderly care robots as a driver of new quality productivity reflects both strategic foresight and a commitment to leveraging innovation for the greater good. As pilot projects take shape and R&D efforts intensify, the nation stands poised to lead the world in creating a sustainable, technology-driven solution to one of the most pressing issues of our time.