Shanghai aims to become global robotics hub

City hopes to attract investors with talent, property, research and development, as well as HR incentives

Shanghai is looking to become a global center for robotics development and manufacturing in 2020, as the city takes the lead in China's economic transformation and technical upgrade, a city official said on Wednesday.

Wu Lei, vice-chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, which draws up blueprints for industrial development, said Shanghai needs to accelerate its industrial restructuring.

"Shanghai's industrial development does not have to worry too much about volume and speed, but it does have to take the lead in innovation and economic transformation," he said.

"Speeding up the development of high-end technology and equipment such as industrial robots is a must," Wu said at the 15th China International Industry Fair.

According to Wu, the size of Shanghai's robotics industry will reach 20 billion yuan ($3.25 billion) in 2015 - including 5 billion yuan of key components manufacturing.

"The size will reach 60 billion to 80 billion yuan in 2020, when the city is built into a global center for technical development and high-end manufacturing of industrial and service robots," he said.

As China's largest industrial cluster for robot manufacturers, Shanghai currently has a robotics industry worth nearly 10 billion yuan. Industrial giant ABB Group has in Shanghai one of its two global manufacturing bases, while a new plant for KUKA also has begun construction.

But to realize its long-term goal, Shanghai needs to continue encouraging the development of global leaders in robot manufacturing, as well as cultivate and introduce more key components manufacturers, along with robotic systems designers and integrated solution providers, Wu said.