2026 World Robot Conference Concludes in Beijing, Showcasing Industry Progress

The 2026 World Robot Conference concluded in Beijing on August 23 after a five-day run.

The event, themed 'Human-Machine Symbiosis, Production and Demand Integration,' presented global robotics technology advances, innovative applications, and industry vitality through multilevel forums, exhibitions, and product releases.

Xu Xiaolan, chair of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, summarized the conference's achievements. The event hosted 7 main forums and 71 side events, gathering over 1,000 experts and releasing 44 new technologies.

The conference issued the 'Intelligent Robot Upward and Good Development Initiative' and the '2026 Humanoid Robot Industry Report,' among other results. It also announced the establishment of the World Model Expert Committee.

A total of 373 companies displayed over 3,000 products, with 311 new launches. Participation included 30 international organizations and 40 overseas firms, drawing over 10,000 foreign visitors and 557,000 overall attendees.

Zhang Feng noted in his speech that the conference showcased new robot capabilities, innovation teams, and international cooperation. Smart robots are moving from demonstrations to real tasks such as parcel sorting, cooking, and packaging.

In the first half of the year, China shipped over 40,000 humanoid robots, accounting for 97% of the global share. The central enterprise robot innovation consortium will open ten high-value scenarios to drive technological breakthroughs, scenario validation, and large-scale applications.

Zhao Yunfeng, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, presided over the closing ceremony.

The ceremony marked the official conclusion of the conference.

The closing ceremony featured a charitable donation activity. Led by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, 19 organizations donated 249 robots, along with science animations and books, to Bijie, Guizhou.

The total value of the donations reached 2 million yuan.

Xu Xiaolan and Zhang Feng presented honorary plaques to the donating organizations and enterprises.

The recognition highlighted the companies' contributions to public welfare.

The Advanced Robotics and Automation International Academic Conference received 122 paper submissions from 10 countries, including China, the US, Germany, and France. Papers covered robotics control, perception, learning, and human-robot interaction.

The best paper award went to 'Bio-inspired Dexterous Finger Design with Lateral Compliance and Active Stiffness Regulation.' Two student papers also received awards.

Certificates were presented by Xi Ning, chair of the CIE Robotics Branch, and Alois Knoll from TU Munich.

The conference showcased 311 new products. Representatives from 20 companies attended the closing ceremony to receive commemorative certificates.

The certificates were presented by Chen Chengchuan, Mohammed Alshamsi, and Jacques Ivan.

The 'Investment Star' platform, designed for showcasing, communication, and resource matching, selected 10 innovative projects from robotics and related fields.

Certificates were presented by Zhang Jianwei, foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Chen Zhihui, chair of the ASEAN Smart Industry Federation.

The conference expressed gratitude to global strategic partner JD Group and ecological partner China Construction Bank Beijing Branch by presenting commemorative trophies.

Media representatives were also honored with plaques for their long-term coverage and support of the conference and robotics industry.

The closing ceremony unveiled the opening date of the 2027 World Robot Conference: August 18, 2027.

Additionally, the 2027 Yizhuang Humanoid Robot Half Marathon will be held on April 18, 2027, and global recruitment for the race was officially launched at the ceremony.

While the event draws to a close, innovation knows no bounds.

The World Robot Conference will continue to cultivate intelligent technology, expand industrial frontiers, and write a new chapter in the high-quality development of the robotics industry.