Beijing to boost robot industry with policy support

Beijing has issued a guideline to boost the capital's robot industry, vowing to provide policy support of up to 30 million yuan ($4.1 million) for major projects.

The guideline, issued by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, outlines 16 measures to comprehensively advance the robotic sector, which it calls a "strategic pioneer industry for the capital's high-quality development in the New Era."

The policies are divided into four categories: technological innovation, industry agglomeration, application of technologies in daily lives, as well as supporting services and cooperation with other relevant industries.

For example, to encourage breakthrough in key technological "bottleneck" problems, the capital pledges to subsidize up to 30 million yuan in areas such as robots' operating system, high-quality chips, key sensors based on companies' investment.

To support robot industry agglomeration, another subsidy is offered for companies setting up production lines in the capital that use robots to manufacture robots. If they can achieve unmanned and smart production, these companies can receive a bonus equivalent to 30 percent of their investment up to 30 million yuan. Key companies are also eligible for an annual subsidy in loan interest of up to 30 million yuan for no more than three years.

The capital also plans to establish a robot industry fund of 10 billion yuan, with at least 2 billion yuan during the initial phase. The fund will support teams in research and help them in the application of innovative products, or grow through merger and acquisition. Special and more efficient review process will be applied if qualified companies specialized in the sector wish to be listed in the Beijing Stock Exchange, the guideline said.

The capital will try to improve the market environment for the sector, and hold regular seminars to learn about the enterprises' needs and learn about the progress made in the sector to better serve them, it said.

The guideline comes as the 2023 World Robot Conference kicked off in Beijing. The conference attracted more than 140 companies in the field.