China to promote sound, orderly development of embodied intelligence industry

BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China is working to ensure the sound, orderly development of the embodied intelligence industry, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

The industry -- exemplified by humanoid robots -- is experiencing rapid expansion in China, NDRC spokesperson Li Chao told a press conference on Thursday. "Meanwhile, humanoid robots have yet to fully mature in terms of technological pathways, business models and application scenarios," she said.

Li noted that China is home to a growing roster of over 150 humanoid robot companies, more than half of which are startups or cross-sector entrants. However, she cautioned against risks such as a glut of homogeneous products and a contraction in space for research and development.

To provide sound guidance for the embodied intelligence industry, the NDRC is working with relevant departments to strengthen policy support, accelerate technological breakthroughs and advance the application of research outcomes, the spokesperson said.

She said that looking ahead, the commission will work to establish industry standards and evaluation systems while improving entry and exit mechanisms for the sector, aiming to foster a fair competition market environment.

Efforts will also be made to develop infrastructure for embodied intelligence, promote the nationwide integration of related technologies and industry resources, and expedite real-life applications, Li added.

The market scale of China's embodied intelligence industry is expected to reach 400 billion yuan (about 56.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2030 and exceed 1 trillion yuan in 2035, according to a report from the Development Research Center of the State Council.