China has made significant strides in industrial automation, rising to third place in the world for robot density, surpassing both Germany and Japan, according to the latest report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This marks a substantial leap for China, driven by technological innovation, a massive manufacturing sector, and robust government policies supporting automation.
Robot density, which measures the number of robots per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing sector, has been a key indicator of automation’s penetration. China, with 470 robots per 10,000 workers in 2023, has doubled its robot density in just four years, up from 402 units in 2022. This rapid growth propelled China to enter the global top 10 in 2019, and now, it stands firmly in third position behind South Korea and Singapore, who retain the top two spots. Germany and Japan, which were ahead of China in 2022, now occupy fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Meanwhile, the United States has seen a steady decline in its robot density rankings. In 2023, the U.S. ranked 11th globally, down from 9th in 2021 and 7th in 2020. Its robot density stood at just 295 robots per 10,000 employees, a figure more than 50% lower than China’s, signaling a growing gap between the two nations in this high-tech field.
Experts believe the U.S.’s diminishing position is closely linked to its ongoing technological blockade against China, which, instead of curbing China’s progress, has failed to halt the nation’s rise in cutting-edge fields like robotics. On the contrary, it may be hindering America’s own manufacturing renaissance.
China’s success is attributed to several factors, including the country’s enormous manufacturing base, a strong policy push, and the development of a comprehensive industrial supply chain. Zhong Xinlong, an advisor at the China Center for Information Industry Development Consultancy, highlighted that China’s growth in robotics is further fueled by demand from sectors like collaborative robots, logistics, and specialized robotics, where China excels.
The country’s robotics capabilities are on full display at the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, where Chinese firms are showcasing advanced humanoid robots for a wide array of applications, from home care to farming and tourism. These robots exemplify China’s strengths in hardware development and cost-effective production, positioning it as a strong competitor in the global tech race.
In stark contrast, the U.S. has seen its manufacturing sector hollowed out in recent decades, which contributes to its lower robot density. Despite efforts by the U.S. government to revive manufacturing, experts warn that the nation’s low adoption of industrial robots may reflect insufficient research and development investment.
Some observers suggest that the U.S.’s failure to curb China’s technological rise may serve as a lesson on the limitations of “decoupling.” While Washington continues to push for reduced tech ties with China, analysts argue that the future of high-tech innovation lies in global collaboration. Han Feizi, the founder of Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology, pointed out that despite geopolitical tensions, China’s robotics industry thrives on international cooperation, with many of its components sourced from abroad and strong demand for Chinese-made robots worldwide.
As China continues to expand its dominance in industrial automation, experts urge the U.S. to shift its focus from futile attempts to suppress China’s tech advancements and instead bolster its own manufacturing competitiveness. The growing robot density gap between the two nations highlights the consequences of misaligned strategies in the race for technological supremacy.
