New research by Washington think-tank ITIF found it is only a matter of time before Chinese robotics firms become leading innovators in the field thanks largely to massive Chinese government subsidies in its robotics industry.
“The US invented robotics, but like so many other industries it lost leadership to foreign competitors,” said Robert Atkinson, author of the ITIF report, said in a statement. “Companies in many other nations were willing to invest for the long haul. Now America will not restore its robotics industry if most of the demand for robotics is outside the US, especially as China catches up.”
The 22-page report, “How Innovative is China in the Robotics Industry?” reached the conclusion that “absent coherent policy responses by western nations, China’s share of robotics production will likely rise significantly.” Atkinson is the report’s author and also president of the nonprofit Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
The report calls for the US Department of Commerce to convene a robotics industry advisory group to make recommendations on ways to rebuild the US robotics industry, including with focus on electrical and mechanical engineering programs at universities. It also calls on Congress and the administration to expand funding of robotics research and to institute a robot production factory tax credit, akin to the CHIPS Act tax credit.
In 2022, China became the largest market for industrial robots globally, with 52% of robot installations globally in 2022. Industrial robots are often automated robot welding arms used in vehicle and machine assembly.
The report also notes that today there are no foundries that make industrial robots in the US. Also, few components suppliers are in the US. In 2022, the US ran a $1.26 billion trade deficit in robotics and exports were only 28% of the value of imports. However, Productive Robotics, based on California, makes multi-axis collaborative robots that ai in automation of the machining process. Ingersoll Machine Tools, based in Illinois, which combines 3D print and computer numerically controlled milling into one machine. There are also multiple robotic startups in the US. Boston Dynamics is one of the best known robotics makers as well.
In China, ITIF provided insights into four robotics companies: Ecovacs Robotics, which makes robotic home appliances; Beijing Roborock Technology, which specializes in sweeping and mopping devices and is backed by Xiaomi; Estun Automatic, a maker of industrial robots; and Siasun, a maker of industrial and mobile robots.
“The US appears to perform well in robotic innovation robotics, but very poorly at robotic production,” the report concludes. “This is not a sustainable strategy and in fact resembles the history of many advanced technologies where the US innovates and other countries produce, eventually significantly reducing US innovation capabilities.”