China has emerged as a global leader in the development of open-source AI models, humanoid robots, and other cutting-edge technologies, driven by a decade-long effort to build a thriving innovation ecosystem that has attracted billions of dollars in investment and talent.
DeepRobotics, a Chinese robotics firm, has unveiled its all-terrain quadruped robot Bobcat, sparking widespread interest and attracting up to eight groups of visitors daily for research and discussions. The robot's popularity is partly attributed to a government innovation policy that provided crucial funding three years ago, driving the company's growth and innovation.
"We received a one-time support of five million yuan (about 690,000 U.S. dollars), which was a significant boost and a strong vote of confidence for us," said Qian Xiaoyu, marketing manager of DeepRobotics in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province.
The following year, impressed by the company's research advancements, the local government injected an additional 10 million yuan in funding, further solidifying its support for the project.
"The government established a one-billion-yuan direct investment fund for sci-tech innovation, focusing on early-stage and small-scale startups in advanced and core technologies to support their growth," said Zhang Kangping, general manager of the Hangzhou Xihu District Sci-Tech Equity Investment Co.
At another company, several intelligent bionic hand products are set for mass production this year. In 2018, the founding team was still conducting research abroad, but a delegation from Hangzhou's government recognized the groundbreaking potential of their technology. A personal invitation was extended to establish the company in Hangzhou, marking the beginning of a fruitful partnership.
"At that time, brain-computer interface technology was unfamiliar to most people. Hangzhou took a risk in making this decision, which truly reflected the government's foresight," said He Xiyujin, partner at Zhejiang Qiangnao Technology Co.
Hangzhou has established a 300-billion-yuan investment fund cluster, combining government funds and private capital to support startups. A comprehensive policy system has been put in place to help these companies scale and become industry leaders.
"With a strong innovation ecosystem, private enterprises can achieve breakthroughs more easily. This includes talent development, reforms in research institutions, venture capital support, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture - all of which create a favorable environment for innovation," said Huang Hanquan, president of the Macroeconomic Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission.
China has now proposed further support for private enterprises, allowing them to lead major national technological projects and access national research infrastructure, which further optimizes the innovation environment.
China’s private enterprises drive sci-tech innovation amid strong government support
China’s private enterprises drive sci-tech innovation amid strong government support
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
