China Makes AI-powered Robots Core of National Strategy
China has launched its 15th Five-Year Plan by placing robotics at the heart of its modern industrial system. The aim is to pivot its AI research towards physical applications with robots as main drivers for economic growth. This is a next step in the country´s strong automation development: China´s manufacturing industry already has an operational stock of around 2 million units — approximately 4.5 times more than the global no. 2, Japan. 54% of annual industrial robots installed worldwide were deployed in China. This is according to the World Robotics 2025 Report, presented by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award winners
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3), announced the winners of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award 2026: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Executive Director of the Japan Robot Association (JARA), and Robert Little, co-founder of ATI Industrial Automation, both well known in the IFR community. Hiroshi Fujiwara, IFR Executive Board member, represents the Japanese robot manufacturers and Robot Little, was an active IFR member during his time with ATI and still supports the IFR activities. Congratulation to the two winners.
Robotik Kongress in Bochum
All German speaking members we would like to bring the following event to your attention: Our member, Lehrstuhl für Produktionssystem der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a Robotik Kongress on 24 and 25 June 2026.
Please find the detailed program online at: https://www.lps.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/robotikkongress