Globally, future industries representing the future direction of technological development and capable of generating disruptive technologies and major original achievements have become the focus of international competition.
The United States has proposed to prioritize the development of technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced communication networks, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology; Japan, around its "Society 5.0" vision, has successively released a series of policies and measures, focusing on supporting the systematic development of technologies and industries such as life and health, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum technology, advanced materials manufacturing, energy and environment, and autonomous vehicles; Germany has made forward-looking deployments focusing on artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, green energy, and digital technology; and the United Kingdom has identified five future technology combinations, including artificial intelligence, engineering biology, future communications, semiconductors, and quantum technology.
Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology held a press conference, announcing that the future intelligent equipment industry will focus on the innovative development of industries such as humanoid robots, aerospace equipment, and deep-sea and deep-earth equipment, with the goal of building a global high ground for the innovative development of the future intelligent equipment industry.
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Guangdong Province Leads the Nation in Industrial Robot Production for Four Consecutive Years
It is worth noting that Guangdong Province has ranked first in the nation for industrial robot production for four consecutive years.
"In 2023, the province produced 168,800 industrial robots (sets), ranking first in the country for the fourth consecutive year. One out of every three industrial robots in China is 'Made in Guangdong.'"
In recent years, Guangdong has focused on the development of the future intelligent equipment sector, and its intelligent robot industry cluster has achieved revenue and added value ranking among the top in the country.
According to publicly available data, in 2022, Guangdong's intelligent robot industry cluster achieved revenue of 61.64 billion yuan and added value of 11.14 billion yuan, placing its industrial development in the first tier nationwide.
Leading enterprises are continuously making breakthroughs in new technologies and applications for future industries such as humanoid robots, commercial aerospace, and flying cars, demonstrating a rapid and positive development trend in the future intelligent equipment industry.
Guangdong ranks first in China in the number of humanoid robot companies.
As of August 2023, Guangdong had 39 humanoid robot companies, ranking first in the country. These include robot manufacturers such as UBTECH, Damon Robotics, Tiantai Intelligent Motion, and Pasini Sensing, as well as supply chain companies such as Orbbec, Inovance Technology, and Haozhi Electromechanical.
This gradual accumulation is driving Guangdong's humanoid robot industry towards a turning point of explosive growth. Previously, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology announced the "Action Plan for Future Intelligent Equipment Industry Clusters," proposing that by 2035, Guangdong will become a global innovation hub for future intelligent equipment industries such as humanoid robots, aerospace equipment, deep-sea equipment, and deep-earth equipment, striving to initially establish a humanoid robot innovation system and achieve breakthroughs in key technologies within 2-3 years.
Zhong Wei, Deputy Director of the Equipment Division of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, stated that leveraging the largest demand market in China, Guangdong has formed a number of advantageous industrial clusters with distinctive characteristics, leading development levels, and scale benefits, including intelligent drones, industrial machine tools, high-end equipment, intelligent robots, and electronic special equipment. In the sub-sectors of future intelligent equipment, such as humanoid robots and aerospace equipment, a number of leading backbone enterprises have emerged, including UBTECH, CAS Space, and EHang, whose international brand influence is continuously increasing.
Industrial Layout of a Manufacturing Powerhouse and an Open Province
Future industrial development is not a "castle in the air," but must be built on the existing industrial foundation.
As a manufacturing powerhouse and an open province, Guangdong Province possesses advantages in equipment manufacturing and its coastal, low-latitude location, and is also one of the world's largest markets for robot applications. As early as 2020, Guangdong Province clearly defined its action plan to cultivate a strategic emerging industry cluster for intelligent robots to promote the continuous development of intelligent manufacturing.
In terms of industrial structure, Guangdong Province has technological advantages in precision machining, electronic design, and process assembly required for robot production, and its product research and development and application are relatively mature. In terms of core component technology breakthroughs and finished product development, companies such as Inovance Technology and Risson Technology have emerged. These companies possess certain domestic core technologies and independent intellectual property rights, gradually forming a complete industrial chain layout. Currently, Guangdong Province's robotics industry has formed industrial clusters represented by Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai, boasting a number of robot brands with independent intellectual property rights. Taking Shenzhen as an example, it has nurtured well-known companies such as Inovance Technology, Changying Precision, DJI, and Pudu.
Shenzhen is building a service robot cluster, Dongguan is focusing on core robot components, Foshan is accelerating its layout in the midstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and Guangzhou is leading robot R&D and manufacturing… With Shenzhen as its center, a promising industrial cluster is gradually taking shape.
