China and the Race for Humanoid Robots: The New Engine of the Silver Economy
- Gabriele Iuvinale
- 4 minuti fa
- Tempo di lettura: 5 min
Key Points
China’s population is rapidly aging, fueling the growth of the “silver economy.”
The market for assistive and humanoid robots in China is expanding rapidly, with both public and private investments.
Chinese companies are becoming global leaders in the production and innovation of humanoid robots.
China aims to reduce dependence on foreign components and dominate the technology supply chain.
Humanoid robots are being applied in numerous sectors: industry, healthcare, services, and research.
Strong government support in China is accelerating the development and adoption of these technologies.
The United States still holds advantages in semiconductors and software, but competition is increasingly fierce.
The adoption of humanoid robots is seen as a strategic response to labor shortages and demographic challenges.
With the rapid aging of China’s population—over 310 million people aged 60 or older, representing 22% of the population—the “silver economy” is becoming a powerhouse. Currently valued at nearly one trillion dollars, it is expected to quadruple to $4.2 trillion by 2035.
At the heart of this revolution are AI-powered assistive robots. This market is set to grow rapidly: from $1.1 billion this year to an expected $2.2 billion by 2029.
Humanoid robots are machines designed to resemble humans in appearance and movement. They can be used in various sectors: military and defense, industry, construction, healthcare, underwater systems, hospitality, education, scientific research, residential, and retail.
In Italy, it is likely that we will increasingly see robots of Chinese production, as recent market developments suggest.
Chinese Humanoid Robots
Imagine sipping a coffee prepared by a robotic arm, receiving a portrait from an artificial intelligence artist, or following a humanoid robot into a meeting room to discuss technology with global experts. These scenes, which may seem like science fiction, are everyday reality at the Zhongguancun Forum 2025, held in Beijing from March 27 to 31.
American tech companies are investing in the development of these robots, but some analysts warn that they may already be lagging behind their Chinese competitors. A report by SemiAnalysis highlights that the Unitree G1—“the only viable humanoid robot on the market”—is completely independent of American components and costs $16,000, compared to $75,000 for Boston Dynamics’ American model.
Although the United States still holds advantages in semiconductors, software, and some precision components, China appears to be the only country able to reap the economic benefits of intelligent robotic systems, including humanoid robots, which “pose an existential threat to the United States.”
According to forecasts, the Chinese humanoid robot market will reach $729.7 million in 2025, doubling from the previous year, and will rise to $10 billion by 2029, with a global market share of 32.7%.
Robots on Display at the Zhongguancun Forum
The latest edition of the conference, themed “New Quality Productive Forces and Global Cooperation in Science and Technology,” showcased the rapid growth of China’s robotics industry. From barista robots to real-time navigation systems, these technologies are already operational, driving growing demand and international cooperation.
About 100 robots from 15 Chinese companies participated in the event, working in sectors such as hospitality, communication, entertainment, and services. During the opening ceremony, a group of dancing robots—including the T1 from Booster Robotics and Kuavo from Leju Robotics—performed a synchronized dance show.
In retail and catering, Galbot partnered with Haoyin Technology Co to run a bar at the forum, where the G1 robot handled orders and delivered them to customers.
China in the Global Market: Key Players
According to a report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Chinese humanoid robot companies are competitive in terms of weight, height, and speed, but still lag behind foreign companies in precision, durability, and reliability.
Leading U.S. and Chinese AI companies are racing to build the hardware/software technology stack needed for humanoid robots. NVIDIA is the preferred supplier for Chinese robotics companies, although many are developing their own solutions. For example, Huawei has announced a partnership with Leju Robotics, whose Kuafu robot is powered by Huawei’s Pangu AI model and Ascend chips.
Unitree Robotics quickly sold all its humanoid robots on JD.com, while Agibot (Zhiyuan Robotics) aims to produce 5,000 robots this year. Foxconn and UBTECH have announced a partnership to integrate humanoid robots into production processes, and UBTECH robots are already used by automakers such as BYD, Geely, and FAW-Volkswagen.
Innovation and Production
Chinese companies are accelerating experimentation in various sectors. Leju Robotics delivered its 100th full-size humanoid robot to BAIC Group and launched a production line with an annual capacity of 200 units. AgiBot announced the production of its 1,000th multi-purpose robot and aims to produce 962 in 2024.
To support research and development, the National and Local Co-built Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center has made the open-source “Tien Kung” robot available and launched RoboMIND, a regulatory data system to improve humanoid robot training.
According to Ming Hsun Lee of BofA Global Research, China sees humanoid robots as essential to mitigate labor shortages. In the short term, they will be used on production lines, while in the medium term they will gradually spread to the service sector, also thanks to falling component costs.
The USA and the Competition
The United States still holds advantages in semiconductors and software, with Nvidia dominating the advanced chip market. Tesla leads humanoid robot production with the Optimus project, while companies like Apptronik and Boston Dynamics are still far from mass market. Agility Robotics’ Digit robots are already used by Amazon in its warehouses.
Investor interest has grown thanks to statements from tech leaders like Jensen Huang of Nvidia, who spoke of a new “era of generalist robotics.”
Chinese Government Support
China offers strong government support to the humanoid robot industry through subsidies, tax breaks, and development zones. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has identified humanoid robots as a key area for technological competition, aiming to create a world-class innovation ecosystem by 2025.
Shanghai has announced a $1.4 billion fund to support the local industry, while major companies like Huawei and Xiaomi are involved in developing humanoid robots. Provincial governments sponsor the creation of research centers and collaborations between universities and companies.
Conclusion
China's rapid rise in humanoid robots represents a significant turning point for both the domestic economy and global technological balances. An aging population, government support and the determination of Chinese companies are transforming the “silver economy” into a laboratory of innovation and competitiveness. While the United States still retains some technological advantages, China's growing manufacturing capacity and ambition suggest that leadership in humanoid robotics will be increasingly contested. In this scenario, the ability to adapt and invest in research and development will be crucial for all players involved in the global race for advanced robotics.