The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has warned the rapidly growing humanoid robot sector about overheating. Although investment in the sector is increasing fast, robots have not yet achieved widespread use.
Even though China aims to be the future leader in humanoid robots, the country’s top economic planning agency expressed that caution is needed. Speaking in Beijing, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) spokesperson Li Chao emphasized that the sector needs to grow in a healthy way.
Li stated that the rapid progress in humanoid robot technologies must be carefully balanced with the risk of overheating. Despite a significant amount of investment flowing into the field, proven use cases for these robots in factories or homes are still limited.
More than 150 Companies
Li noted that there are more than 150 companies working on humanoid robotics in China. Stating that more than half of these are entirely new startups or firms shifting from other areas, he warned that this density could lead to copycat projects and a stagnation of progress: “Frontier technologies have always faced the problem of balancing rapid growth with bubble risk. The picture we see today in the humanoid robot sector is an example of this.”
This statement is noteworthy because the Chinese administration had previously defined “embodied intelligence” technology behind humanoid robots as one of its strategic priorities. This field is included in the category identified by the Communist Party as one of the six critical sectors that will carry the country’s growth until 2030.
Investments Increasing but Adoption Moving Slowly
The humanoid robot sector has grown rapidly in the last two years. Many humanoid robot prototypes capable of walking, grasping objects, and performing basic tasks have been introduced at major tech fairs in China. Many companies have started showing off their robots for areas like warehouse logistics, simple production line jobs, and customer service. While investors and analysts see these as signs that the sector is starting to mature, many applications are still at the pilot level and have not moved to mass adoption.
Investments are also increasing rapidly. Citigroup expects exponential growth in robot production next year as Chinese manufacturers increase capacity. Major companies are also reporting receiving their first orders. UBTech, as one of the prominent players in the sector, announced that it received orders exceeding one billion yuan. The market also reflects this interest. The Solactive China Humanoid Robotics Index, which tracks companies in the field, rose by approximately 26 percent this year.
Regulatory Bodies Will Tighten Oversight
Li says steps will be taken to prevent a market overflowing with similar products and to open space for innovation. Officials plan to improve entry and exit rules, create a more competitive ecosystem, and support basic research areas. In summary, China wants the robotics sector to grow, but aims for this to happen without jeopardizing stability.
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