The Shapingba District in Chongqing, China, recently hosted the finals of the 11th "Maker in China" SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest for Intelligent Biomimetic Robots, drawing over 100 teams from across the nation. Concluding on September 11, the event showcased China's push to transition embodied artificial intelligence from research labs to commercial use.
This three-day national competition featured projects in biomimetic robotics, industrial automation, and AI systems designed to interact with the physical world. The competition's theme, "Pushing Tech Frontiers, Unleashing Creativity, " highlighted the innovative spirit driving these developments.
Organizers facilitated meetings among companies, universities, and research institutions to discuss technology transfer, financing, and local deployment. The event is part of a national program aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialized technologies.
Participants competed in 13 tracks, covering a range of work from foundational research to systems nearing commercial deployment. Teams in the startup category focused on cutting-edge technologies, core enabling technologies, and specialized applications, emphasizing the hardware, software, and control systems essential for the next generation of robots.
In contrast, enterprise teams tested systems for real-world applications in sectors such as electric power, healthcare, and services. The focus was on the technologies' reliability in operating environments and their scalability for broader deployment.
Projects tackled technical bottlenecks that have hindered the wider deployment of robotic systems. Notable entries included multi-robot coordination and task-scheduling systems for warehouses, assistive exoskeletons for older adults and rehabilitation patients, biomimetic robots for inspecting electric power infrastructure, miniature hummingbird-inspired flapping-wing drones, and autonomous clothes-folding robots.
The competition also served as a platform for financing and business development discussions. Several projects announced plans to establish operations in Shapingba, further cementing the district's role as a hub for embodied AI within Chongqing's broader robotics supply chain.
At the closing ceremony, the Shapingba District government signed letters of intent with companies such as SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. and Chentu Technology. Additionally, ZTE signed agreements with teams from Zhejiang University and Xi'an Jiaotong University.
the value of Shapingba's robotics output surged 233% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the previous year. This growth underscores the district's ambition to become a leading center for embodied AI technologies.
