Amidst the ongoing structural adjustment and transformation of the economy and the implementation of the “Made in China 2025” strategy, the robot industry in China is experiencing a phase of rapid growth. To further enhance the industry’s innovation capability and break through developmental bottlenecks, the “Golden Finger Award • 2017 China Robot Annual Product Selection” (hereinafter referred to as the “Golden Finger Selection”) has officially commenced. This initiative is guided by the China Machinery Industry Federation and jointly launched by the China Machine Business News, the CIROS (China International Robot Show) Organizing Committee, and Shanghai CIROS Exhibition Co., Ltd.
According to the recently updated IDC “Worldwide Commercial Robotics Spending Guide,” global spending on robotics technology and related services will more than double, increasing from USD 91.5 billion (approximately RMB 630 billion) in 2016 to USD 188 billion (approximately RMB 1.3 trillion) by 2020. It is evident that continuous technological innovation and improvement, expanding applications, and growing market acceptance are jointly fueling the vigorous development of the global robotics market. In 2016, China’s output of industrial robots reached 72,400 units, a year-on-year increase of 34.3%, signifying the expanding scale and improving structure of the China robot industry. In terms of product types, the proportion of multi-joint robots continues to rise, indicating that China robot products are evolving from simple, low-to-mid-end models toward high-end robotics. Simultaneously, the development of service robots in China is in full swing. Compared to industrial robots, the development of China’s service robot industry is largely synchronized with international progress and is likely to achieve more groundbreaking advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence.
The Golden Finger Selection has emerged precisely within this industrial context. As China’s first product-oriented robot selection platform, its founding purpose is to focus on robot and core component products applied in the China market. The selection evaluates products based on three dimensions: technological innovation, market leadership, and application contribution. The aim is to clarify the development direction for China robot products, establish new value benchmarks for the industry, and inspire more technological innovation practices in the field of robotics, thereby promoting the application of robot technology across more sectors.
1. Comprehensive Award Categories to Cover All Facets of the China Robot Industry
The “Golden Finger Award • 2017 China International Robot Annual Selection” encompasses all levels of the robot industry’s development, providing relevant manufacturers with opportunities to compete for various awards. This year’s Golden Finger Selection features five major award categories, designed to comprehensively recognize excellence across the China robot ecosystem:
- Best Industrial Robot – Includes product groups for Multi-joint Robots, SCARA Robots, Parallel (Delta) Robots, Collaborative Robots, Cartesian/Gantry Robots, and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles).
- Best Service Robot – Includes product groups for Mobile Service Robots, Non-mobile Service Robots, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones).
- Best Core Component & Key Technology Award – This category focuses on the critical building blocks of robotics. It includes product groups for Controllers, Servo Motors, Reducers (Gearboxes), Sensors, Software Platforms, and Condition Monitoring & Maintenance systems. Notably, this year’s selection has, for the first time, incorporated key technology awards alongside core components, broadening the scope to encourage more automation enterprises to participate and contribute innovative products and cutting-edge technologies to the advancement of the China robot industry.
- Industry Promotion Award – Recognizes contributions that significantly propel the overall development of the China robot sector.
- Annual Most Popular Award – Highlights products that have garnered significant market attention and popularity.
By establishing these distinct categories, the selection aims to guide the collaborative innovation of robot and automation technologies, thereby fostering intelligent manufacturing. The inclusion of the key technology segment is a strategic move to highlight the foundational innovations powering the next generation of China robot solutions.
2. Enhanced Professionalism and Fairness Through Optimized Selection Methodology
Compared to the previous edition, the selection committee has innovated and optimized this year’s event. By refining and subdividing the product groups, manufacturers now compete within the same specific product category. This approach enhances the professionalism and fairness of the Golden Finger Selection. The results are expected to have a stronger guiding influence on technological innovation and development within their respective product fields in the China robot market.
Regarding the selection method, this year’s process will incorporate a WeChat voting component. This addition enriches the evaluation methodology, combining public engagement with expert judgment to make the selection more authoritative, professional, and equitable. The final winners will be determined through a weighted statistical process that considers both expert reviews and public votes.
3. Selection Timeline and Grand Unveiling at CIROS 2017
The selection process has now entered its first phase: Product Submission (deadline: May 31). Following this, online WeChat voting and expert review will commence on June 1. The final awards will be calculated based on the weighted results from both channels.
The culmination of the Golden Finger Selection will be a prestigious ceremony held concurrently with CIROS2017, the China International Robot Show. Industry experts, scholars, representatives from leading enterprises, and professionals from across the China robot industry chain will gather at the “China International Robot Industry Summit Forum & Golden Finger Award • 2017 China Robot Annual Product” Awards Ceremony. This event will witness the announcement of the award winners, celebrating the outstanding products and technologies that are shaping the future of the China robot industry and contributing to its prosperous development.
The launch of the Golden Finger Award • 2017 selection marks a significant moment for the China robot community. By focusing on product excellence, innovation, and market impact, it serves as a crucial platform for recognizing achievement, setting new coordinates for progress, and accelerating the healthy and sophisticated growth of the China robot industry on the global stage.