The draft of China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” states that future industries must be positioned with a forward-looking vision. Quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion energy, brain–computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communication technologies are to be developed as new drivers of economic growth. Over the next five years, these emerging industries will accelerate their transition from technological breakthroughs to practical applications, continuously generating new development momentum.
At the country’s largest humanoid robot manufacturing facility, several advanced robots have just come off the production line, capable of thinking and interacting. This remarkable advancement has been achieved through training across more than 100 real-world scenarios in an adjacent facility. From lifting heavy objects and threading needles to cutting fruit, a robot that learns through large-scale models can transfer its skills to all robots, which are then rapidly deployed to mass production lines.
In the first year of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” the development of embodied intelligence robots has exceeded expectations. In just the first two months, investment reached nearly half of the total investment made in the entire year of 2025. This rapidly expanding market reflects immense future potential. The draft plan also emphasizes the need to build a complete industrial chain for future industries.
How extensive is this industrial chain? A single embodied intelligence robot involves over 100 related industries. Its structural development alone could raise the domestic substitution rate of advanced steel from 30% to over 70% within the next five years.
How deep is this chain? A single robotic fingertip has over 30 patents; each of its nearly 20 joints contains about 10 different control units. The development of just one robotic hand requires the joint efforts of nearly 100 enterprises.
In recent days, multiple innovative research labs centered on embodied intelligence have been established. These initiatives span not only emerging sectors such as large AI models and solid-state batteries but also involve traditional industries in innovative transformation. A newly established tendon research laboratory, designed to significantly enhance the flexibility of robotic joints, is led by a team originating from a textile company. During the implementation of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” approximately 100 new innovation centers and research laboratories are expected to be established across upstream and downstream industrial chains. Around 500 specialized and innovative enterprises will also emerge, increasing the overall industrial scale by more than tenfold. By 2030, this sector is expected to reach a value of several trillion yuan. At the same time, over one million new jobs will be created, including data specialists and robotic systems engineers.
The draft plan further emphasizes exploring diversified technological pathways and representative application scenarios for future industries. Over the next five years, sectors such as embodied intelligence are expected to enter a new stage of practical implementation.
By 2030, 6G technology is expected to be commercially deployed for the first time, with the number of connected devices per square kilometer increasing more than 100-fold. Downloading a 4K HD movie will take just one second. Quantum computing, millions of times faster than supercomputers, will begin to truly “solve problems,” significantly enhancing research and development efficiency in fields such as pharmaceuticals and new materials. Brain–computer interfaces will expand beyond medical rehabilitation into industrial applications and everyday consumer use. It is anticipated that within the next five years, the combined output value of six major future industries will exceed 10 trillion yuan, opening the door to boundless new possibilities.
Source: Swarna-Alim-Lily, China Media Group.