China is investing heavily in humanoid robots as Beijing rolls out a blueprint for the country’s future industries in 2026, all bound to be hi-tech biased.
China is revamping up the layout of its future industries in 2026, prioritizing key sectors including future energy, quantum tech, embodied Artificial Intelligence (AI), brain-computer interfaces and 6G, all of which were listed in this year’s Government Work Report.
Looking ahead into 2026, several emerging technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), humanoid robots and 6G, are expected to be among the key drivers of future growth, Chinese officials and experts said.
In 2025, the number of domestic humanoid robot manufacturers in China exceeded 140, with more than 330 humanoid robot models released.
The industry widely views 2025 as the first year of mass production for humanoid robots, “with the sector poised for takeoff and strong growth prospects ahead,” according to Zhang Yunming, the Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Landmark projects are taking shape nationwide as Beijing advances the country’s first space computing innovation center, while Shanghai builds the world’s maiden humanoid robot component pilot platform.
In Shanghai, the world’s first pilot platform for humanoid robot components is taking shape.
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By establishing small-scale trial production lines for five categories of components, including reducers, the platform offers 72 testing and verification services, significantly lowering the development threshold for humanoid robots.
Since the beginning of 2026, China has launched over 100 innovation and research tasks for future industries through its open competition mechanism, focusing on general artificial intelligence, quantum technology, atomic-level manufacturing and clean low-carbon hydrogen energy.
Key areas of application have been identified, while manufacturing innovation centers and pilot platforms in priority fields have been established to speed up the translation of cutting-edge technologies from laboratories to production lines.
“Expanding use of emerging technologies such as AI and humanoid robots has provided important momentum for the development of the industrial economy, under the country’s call to promote new quality productive forces,” said Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics.
Over 100 research tasks have been launched, covering general AI, atomic manufacturing and low-carbon hydrogen energy, speeding up tech commercialization.
China also promotes hydrogen energy applications and plans tiered cultivation of unicorn and niche tech firms.
With 193 industrial clusters hosting 54,000 innovative enterprises, the country is steadily driving breakthroughs and industrial upgrading across future sectors.