download (1).jpg (Photo : Reuters)
Even if it is already an electronics giant, China is still planning to further strengthen its position in robotics by channeling support from the government and financial investors.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been tasked by the government to produce a technology roadmap for robotics.
China is aiming to reach and capture 45 percent of the high-end spectrum of the robotics industry by 2020. No clarification on snagging either the global or domestic robotics market has been made, though.
The Chinese government, through the ministry, is planning to support the robotics industry by providing additional financial assistance and implementing new policies and regulations.
A ministry official said that the robotics industry in China, in its current state, still has weak spots in its technological foundations.
"The key core components used are heavily reliant on imports," said the official.
The International Federation of Robotics reported that over 36,000 industrial robots--9,000 of which came from domestic firms--were purchased by China last year, making it the largest buyer of robots worldwide. Robot sales also tripled a year before that.
According to IFR forecasts, China will be overtaking Japan and the U.S. in terms of the quantity of operational industrial robots. The country is projected to have the most, with an estimated 427,900 units by 2017.
The industrial robots bought by China are utilized primarily in car manufacturing. The Chinese government is planning to expand robotics in other industries like food production, logistics and construction.
