As humanoid robots take center stage at the Beijing World Robot Conference, global industry players are turning to China for answers on how to turn innovation into real-world applications.
The conference opened Wednesday, bringing more than 3,000 exhibits, with one tenth of them premiered. Running for five days, the event has drawn over 300 exhibitors, up 69 percent from last year, and more than 60 activities are on agenda.
For those who have traveled thousands of miles, the question on everyone's mind is no longer what robots can do, but where they are headed next.
"China is pretty advanced when it comes to the humanoid robots. But what I'm really curious about is how China manages to put these humanoid robots into real-life applications. That is something that I was looking around to see in Beijing," said Mohamadreza Sabaghian, program manager of Amazon Robotics in Germany.
Also on the hunt for new business is a Serbian startup specializing in charging technology, which is eying the burgeoning humanoid robot market.
"We want to find some partners, some investors, to provide our technology to some big companies in China," said Luka Mrdja, co-founder of SLM Charging Technology.
Different technologies may follow different trajectories, but the consensus on the forum stage was clear — innovation only matters when it becomes a product that makes life better.
A report released at the forum shows that humanoid robots are now moving beyond small‑scale trials.
In the first half of 2026, China's shipments topped 40,000 units — making up 97.4 percent of the global total. But the story is about more than just numbers.
"And it's really impressive to see all of the different models, all of the different application. When I came here I was really surprised by the fireman robots. I didn't even think that was a possibility. So that was great," said Naomi Vogel, an analyst at Endeavour Management Services.
"Without any hesitation of the future. Moving, trying to improve constantly. And I think it's gonna be very interesting to see how China is leading this effort in humanoid robots," said Bernard Vogel, co-founder and director of Endeavour Vision.
While the widespread use of humanoid robots may still be years away, the push to find meaningful applications has already begun in earnest.
China's humanoid robot push draws global attention at Beijing conference
Overseas healthcare and medical firms, from first-time to longtime exhibitors, are using the ongoing 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai as a platform to tap China's fast-growing market and reach Asian consumers.
The CIIE, running from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai, has attracted 4,142 overseas exhibitors across more than 440,000 square meters, with over 480 exhibits making their global, Asian or China debut, the highest number in the event's history.
In the medical equipment and healthcare zone, both first-time and returning exhibitors are showcasing products and seeking deeper access to the Chinese market.
For Biosan AS, a Norwegian nutrition and health supplement brand, this year marks its CIIE debut. The company is using the Shanghai showcase to roll out seven new products for the Asian market, betting that China's rapidly expanding health sector offers the right entry point.
"This is our first time to attend the CIIE. We are introducing seven new launches to the Asian markets at this exhibition. We think the Chinese market is a really fast-growing health market, it's a great place for us to start to show the products to the Asian consumers," said a representative of Biosan AS.
For returning exhibitors, the expo has delivered tangible market growth and reinforced their confidence in deepening their presence in China.
"So we have been to CIIE many times. It definitely helps a lot as a U.S. brand to enter the Chinese market and we really appreciate the opportunities that China opening-up policies has brought us," said a U.S. exhibitor.
Another exhibitor, back for a second year, described a three- to five-fold revenue increase after its first CIIE appearance.
"We first attended the CIIE last year, and our brand's revenue grew three- to five-fold. We hope the expo will help us further expand our brand influence, win more orders and partnerships. We are also working with universities on the Chinese mainland on joint research to advance industry-academia-research integration," said the exhibitor.
Several foreign companies said that their operations in China are moving beyond simply importing overseas products: they are ramping up production investment, co-building clinical research programs and assembling fuller industrial ecosystems on the ground.
"These technologies are being rolled out from our China factories, based in the Yangtze River Delta. We are very optimistic about the Chinese market and are continuing to invest across various aspects and pursue ongoing technological iteration," said an exhibitor.
Global firms eye China's fast-growing health market at 9th CIIE
