At the 2024 World Robot Conference (WRC) opening on August 21, 2024, Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, announced that China holds over 190,000 active robotics patents, which constitutes nearly two-thirds of the global total.

For the 11th consecutive year, China remains the world’s largest market for industrial robots, with more than 50% of new global installations occurring in the country over the past three years. The nation’s impressive growth in this field is highlighted by a dramatic increase in robot density within manufacturing, now at 470 units per 10,000 workers—nearly a 19-fold rise over the past decade.

Xin Guobin emphasized China's focus on advancing robotics research, addressing core technological challenges, and promoting high-quality industry growth.

The 2024 WRC, held in Beijing and concluded on August 25, also featured discussions on the role of robotics in various sectors. Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), urged global collaboration among governments, enterprises, and research institutions to integrate cutting-edge technologies with robotics. This, she suggested, would enhance applications across manufacturing, healthcare, services, and rescue operations.

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Liliana ZHANG, S&O IP China, Patent Attorney