Chongqing hosts national robotics contest to accelerate embodied AI commercialization

The national Maker in China robotics contest wrapped up on September 11 in Chongqing's Shapingba District, drawing more than 100 teams from across the country. Participants displayed a wide array of embodied AI solutions, including multi-robot warehouse systems, assistive exoskeletons, power-line inspection bots, hummingbird-style drones and autonomous garment-folding machines. The event was organized under a national program aimed at helping innovative SMEs bring specialized technologies to market, with 13 competition tracks covering everything from basic research to near-commercial systems.

Alongside the technical showcase, organizers arranged forums for technology transfer, financing and regional deployment, prompting several companies to announce plans to locate in Shapingba. The district government signed letters of intent with SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd., Chentu Technology and ZTE, the latter partnering with university teams from Zhejiang and Xi'an Jiaotong. Local data show a 233% rise in the district's robotics output during the first seven months of 2026, underscoring its ambition to become a hub for embodied AI within Chongqing's robotics supply chain.