Fragmented policy may hamper robot advance in China

Subject

Industrial robots in China.

Significance

China bought more robots than any other country last year, and by 2017 is likely to have the world's largest number in operation. The International Federation of Robotics estimates that China's population of industrial robots -- defined as machines that can be programmed to perform more than one operation -- will double from 200,000 at the end of 2014 to more than 400,000 in 2017. However, the country's robot density is still low by international standards, with just 14 robots per 10,000 employees by 2013 data, far behind South Korea's 437, Japan's 323 and Germany's 282.

Impacts

• China will be the world's largest export market for industrial robots.
• Large multinationals that dominate the Chinese market will face challenges from government policies to give local companies a larger slice.
• Market share of Chinese robot manufacturers will increase, but many will still rely on imported parts and software.
• China will lag behind global high-tech manufacturing hubs in terms of robot density for years to come.