China’s humanoid robot industry is experiencing impressive growth, with a projected market value of USD 60 billion by 2032. At the 2024 World Robot Conference, models like Unitree’s G1 attracted attention with innovative hardware and intelligent learning capabilities. By the end of 2024, Kepler’s Forerunner and Fourier’s GR-2 entered the market, offering promising prospects for industrial applications.
For this reason, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Shanghai organized a Trend Scouting Mission from June 16–18, 2025, to the dynamic Chinese robotics hubs of Shanghai and Suzhou, allowing participants to experience China’s technological revolution in humanoid robotics. The three-day innovation tour, which was fully booked, provided fascinating insights into the astonishing advancements of Chinese companies in this promising field of artificial intelligence applications.
Day 1: Shanghai – Incubators and Industry Pioneers
The tour began with a visit to the Caohejing Humanoid Robot Incubator, where the startup Cyan presented its flexible industrial robot "Orca I," scheduled for production in mid-2025. The AI-controlled "Agibot A1" by AgiBot also garnered admiration, particularly in the "Data Collection Center," where humanoid robots are trained through thousands of repetitions of simple work scenarios for various tasks.
Day 2: Zhangjiang Robot Valley – Medicine and Emotions
Zhangjiang Robot Valley featured more highlights: Shanghai Fourier Intelligence showcased its rehabilitation robot "GR-1," deployed in over 2,000 clinics worldwide. Nearby, Shanghai Zhuo Yide (Droid-up) impressed with its emotional robot "Ulaa" and the "Xiao Bei" series for the education and service sectors. Also on the agenda was Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robot Co., Ltd., an innovative high-tech company focused on the research, development, and production of humanoid robots. In addition to a packed schedule of company visits, an evening reception at the dizzying heights of the iconic Jin Mao Tower provided a great opportunity to network with the creative minds behind the robotics start-ups and establish valuable new connections.
Day 3: Suzhou – Industry and Research
In Suzhou, MagicLab Robotic Technology demonstrated its "MagicBots," designed to revolutionize industrial processes with a 20 kg payload capacity. At the startup "JoyIn," the delegation experienced a household robot that interacts with children. The tour concluded with visits to Jibot Intelligent, a manufacturer of Automated Moving Robots, and Veichi Electrics, a key supplier of precision gears for the robotics industry.
