Robotics R&D programs in China
In China, the "14th Five-Year Plan" for the development of the robotics industry runs until 2025. The program, published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in Beijing in December 2021 focuses on promoting innovation. The aim is to make China a world leader in robotics technology and industrial development. The “Key Special Program on Intelligent Robots” had been updated in July 2024. The budget of about $45.2 million promotes the development of independent key sectors of the national economy. Key targets include fundamental frontier technologies such as training of generative artificial intelligence (AI) models. The statistical yearbook "World Robotics" by IFR shows that China reached a robot density of 470 units per 10,000 workers in the manufacturing industry: The country ranked third worldwide in 2023. China only entered the top 10 in 2019. It has managed to double its robot density within four years.
Robotics R&D programs in Japan
In Japan, the “New Robot Strategy” aims to make the country the world´s No. 1 robot innovation hub. Key sectors remain unchanged including manufacturing, nursing and medical and agriculture. The “Moonshot Research and Development Program”, launched in 2020, will run until 2050 with a budget of $440 million. Ten Moonshot goals have been set in the areas of society, environment and economy to achieve “human well-being.” These include issues facing society in the future, such as an aging population and global warming. The program promotes the realization of AI robots that learn autonomously, adapt to their environment, evolve in intelligence and act alongside humans. According to IFR’s "World Robotics," Japan is the world's No. 1 industrial robot manufacturer. The country globally ranked in fifth place with 419 units per 10,000 workers installed.
Robotics R&D programs in Korea
In Korea, the government announced the "4th Basic Plan on Intelligent Robots" in January 2024, which will run until 2028. An investment of $128 million supports the development of the robotics industry as a core industry for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as innovation in manufacturing and services. Key targets are to improve technology, manpower and corporate competitiveness, which constitute the foundation of the Korean robotics industry. The country aims to strengthen strategic inter-company, international, and interregional cooperation for the robotics industry. "World Robotics" lists Korea as the world´s No. 1 adopter of industrial robots with 1,012 robots per 10,000 employees. Robot density has increased by 5% on average each year since 2018.
Robotics R&D programs in the European Union
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s key research and innovation framework program. The budget is set at $100 billion and runs until 2027. Top targets are strengthening the EU’s scientific and technological bases and boosting Europe’s innovation capacity and competitiveness. The European Commission provides total funding of $183.5 million for the robotics-related work program 2023-2025 that was partly updated in April 2024. The focus is on industrial leadership in AI, data and robotics, clean energy transition and innovative health initiatives.
According to “World Robotics” statistics, the European Union has a robot density of 219 units per 10,000 workers, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia in the world's top 10.
Germany´s R&D and innovation program “High-Tech Strategy 2025 (HTS)” runs until 2026 with a total budget set to $369.2 million. The “Robotics research action plan” shall support the cross-connection of research centers as “Robotics Institute Germany”, support skilled labor and bring robotics research results into application.
According to the report "World Robotics" by IFR, Germany is the largest robot market in Europe – the robot density ranks fourth worldwide with 429 robots per 10,000 employees.
