China establishes a dominant position in the humanoid robot ecosystem.
According to a report by the US investment bank Morgan Stanley, China is far surpassing the West in the number of top-listed companies involved in the development of humanoid robots.
Accordingly, a report from Morgan Stanley suggests that China is surpassing the West in the scale of its humanoid robotics industry, although it still lags behind in some key technological areas.
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said that of the top 100 publicly traded companies globally identified as "directly involved" in the development of humanoid robots, 56% are based in China. Furthermore, China accounts for 45% of integration companies, businesses that specialize in customizing robots to meet real-world user needs.
Morgan Stanley emphasizes that one of the major challenges for Western investors is the lack of noteworthy companies in this sector, beyond big names like Tesla and Nvidia.
The report indicates that China is making the most impressive strides in the humanoid robotics industry, thanks to strong government support, advantages in its domestic supply chain, and a business ecosystem ready to apply this technology in practice.
"In our view, this is an important signal, reflecting the current state of the humanoid robot ecosystem, an ecosystem that could change significantly in the future," Morgan Stanley stated.
Currently, the majority of humanoid robots are deployed in industrial environments, particularly in logistics and manufacturing, while others serve in research and education. Some humanoid robot models have even been used for daily tasks in hotels in China.
As proof of this rapid development, last January, a group of humanoid robots performed a dance routine on China's national television station CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, attracting considerable attention from viewers.
Analysts believe that China's maintenance of a strong heavy industry sector over the past decades, while some Western countries have gradually withdrawn, has given Chinese robotics companies a significant advantage.
Mark Natkin, CEO of Beijing-based market research firm Marbridge Consulting, said Chinese businesses "are excellent students of history." They understand that countries that started by producing cheap goods for the world have all developed by steadily moving up the value chain.
With its massive production scale, China is well-positioned to test automation solutions without excessive concern about disruption if initial errors occur, Natkin emphasized.
Furthermore, the boom in domestic manufacturing has made it easier for Chinese robotics companies to access industrial supply chains, leveraging readily available components to develop their technology.
In its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China aims to become a "global center of excellence" for robotics technology innovation, with the robotics industry's revenue growth rate exceeding 20% annually.
Authorities in the country may be pushing for the development of robots to maintain productivity amid a declining population, with China recording a decrease of 1.39 million people last year.
However, according to a Morgan Stanley report, Chinese companies have yet to catch up in a crucial area of the robotics industry: the production of high-end screws. These are essential components that convert the rotational motion of robot motors into linear motion, and are currently dominated by European and Japanese companies.
The report indicates that a significant gap in performance, load capacity, and precision still exists between high-end screws manufactured in China and those from Europe and Japan. Nevertheless, some Chinese companies have begun to enter this market, opening up opportunities to narrow the gap in the future.
