As the 2026 World Robot Conference is set to open in Beijing this August, the event's theme of "Human-Robot Symbiosis, Industry-Demand Integration" will attract over 300 companies showcasing more than 2,000 exhibits. Among the global competitors, a standout force from China's old industrial base in the northeast is drawing significant attention—the Jilin Province Bionic Robot Innovation Center will present its full range of bionic intelligent products, demonstrating the innovative power of Changchun's embodied intelligence industry to the world.

This is not merely a participation in an exhibition; it is a microcosm of an old industrial base's steady accumulation of strength in the future industry track. Embodied intelligence is emerging as a new focal point of global technological competition, with the "15th Five-Year Plan" officially incorporating it into the national strategic layout for future industries, alongside quantum technology and biomanufacturing as one of six key sectors. Data from the State Administration of Taxation shows that from January to May of this year, enterprise sales revenue in China's embodied intelligence industry achieved a rapid growth rate of 22.4%.

For Changchun, this is not a case of simply chasing a trend, but a natural industrial leap. As the cradle of China's automotive industry, Changchun boasts a complete manufacturing system in automobiles and railway rolling stock, which now serves as the most solid industrial foundation for embodied intelligence. Zhao Di, Chief Technology Officer of the Jilin Province Bionic Robot Innovation Center, calculated that approximately 80% of the core technologies in automotive manufacturing are shared with embodied intelligence. Sun Shouhong, Deputy Director of the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, identified another unique advantage: the region's icy and snowy landscapes provide a precious environment for training robots to withstand harsh conditions.

The combination of manufacturing depth and extreme scenario complexity forms Changchun's irreproducible industrial endowment. Within the city's embodied intelligence industry landscape, the Jilin Province Bionic Robot Innovation Center stands out as a brilliant gem. Officially approved by the provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology in April 2025 and guided by academician Ren Luquan, the center has established China's first "AI+" multi-ecology demonstration platform for bionic robots, the "Jilin Province Bionic Robot MALL." This platform showcases world-first technologies from Professor Ren Lei's team, including the Ying-Hand M2 bionic dexterous hand with 38 degrees of freedom, a hand grip force of 330N, and the ability to perform 33 types of human-like dexterous manipulations with a 96% success rate. The Xin-Hand M1 features 472 tactile sensing units, and the Bowen W-Bot 2.0 is the world's smallest full-size wheeled humanoid robot. Bionic quadruped robots like "Sun Chaser" and "Moon Chaser" are widely applicable in scenarios such as grid inspection and emergency rescue, achieving a complete technology chain from "brain" decision-making to "cerebellum" coordination, "limb" execution, and "skin" perception.

In July this year, the Innovation Center appeared at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), and it will now take the stage at the World Robot Conference. On August 20, the International Society for Bionic Engineering and the Innovation Center will jointly host a forum titled "Bionic Empowerment, Smart Creation of the Future" on bionic embodied intelligent robot technology breakthroughs and industry ecosystem co-construction. From Shanghai to Beijing, from WAIC to WRC, this "Jilin business card" is being recognized globally.

The rise of a single company does not constitute an industrial upsurge; it is the integration of a complete chain that generates true momentum. With the development of the Bionic Robot Innovation Center, Changchun's embodied intelligence industry is forming clusters. FAW Mould, a company with 72 years of experience in the automotive equipment sector, completed the leap from R&D to debut at a major auto show in just half a year. At the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, FAW Group's full-size humanoid robot made its global debut, relying on its independently developed "FAW Embodied Intelligence Operating System" to perform tasks ranging from 4S store reception to factory floor logistics. Changchun Fire-Wheel Technology focuses on high-risk special operations, offering a product matrix including explosion-proof wheeled robots, quadruped explosion-proof robot dogs, and wheeled-arm humanoid robots, holding over 60 core intellectual property rights. Boli Electronics specializes in physical simulation engines and AI algorithm development, leading the creation of national standards for AI behavior recognition. Changchun Wanyi Technology's "Da Yi" guide robot dog helps visually impaired individuals navigate obstacles and travel safely. From industrial manufacturing and special operations to standard-setting and public services, these companies cover multiple key segments of the embodied intelligence industry chain, with seeds of industry sprouting and growing vigorously in Changchun.

This industrial clustering is not accidental; it is underpinned by Changchun's systematic planning and sustained efforts in strategic layout, policy support, financial investment, and talent cultivation. Top-level design has been prioritized to guide the industry's direction. Changchun has explicitly stated its intention to accelerate the development of seven new track industries, including embodied intelligence, and actively promote the humanoid robot sector. In its "3 Transformations, 4 Strengths, 7 New" modern industrial system, embodied intelligence is listed as one of the "7 New" industries, written into the government work report for two consecutive years in 2025 and 2026 as a key task for deploying the "robot industry."

Scientific and technological innovation is being promoted to overcome conversion bottlenecks. Changchun is deeply implementing the "5616" Scientific and Technological Innovation Action Plan, adopting innovative support policies such as "grant-investment combination," "first investment, later equity," and "fund + subsidies" for government funds. In the first half of 2026 alone, 11 landmark scientific and technological achievements were industrialized. A 150 million yuan Phase IV Future Seed Fund was established, and a network of 44 pilot bases across the city has formed a grid-like layout, along with a five-tier layered cultivation database for enterprises. Substantial financial incentives are being offered to attract talent and foster innovation. Building on the provincial government's 20 measures, Changchun has added its own support: top-tier newly introduced talents receive 3 million yuan in funding, and academician teams starting businesses can be granted up to 10 million yuan. Housing subsidies for high-level talents can reach up to 500,000 yuan, with rent-free accommodations for talent apartments in categories A, B, and C. Talents designated as "strategic scientists" are assigned a 3-5 person service team. The city is building a high-standard "Changchun Talent Innovation Port" and accelerating the development of a youth-friendly city. In the first half of 2026, the Changchun New Area alone supported 185 enterprises in 282 projects for scientific and technological research and achievement transformation, with a total amount exceeding 200 million yuan.

High-level platforms are being used to accelerate industrial agglomeration. The North Lake Future Science City is being built to a high standard as the city's innovation source. The Changchun New Area, as the core industrial carrier, has invested 100 million yuan annually in fiscal funds for three consecutive years, leveraging 3 billion yuan in social capital to build a full-cycle fund cluster. In March 2026, the 59,800-square-meter Intelligent Robot and Sensor Industrial Park officially opened, housing 10 key projects including the Bionic Robot Innovation Center, forming a complete "R&D - incubation - industrialization" chain ecosystem. Nationally, China's embodied intelligence market is expected to reach 400 billion yuan by 2030 and surpass one trillion yuan by 2035. On this trillion-yuan track, Changchun is transforming its traditional manufacturing advantages into core competitiveness, striving to build a new growth point for high-quality development.

In August, the world's attention will be focused on Beijing. When the bionic dexterous hand opens and closes with precision at the World Robot Conference, what people will witness is not just a company's technical prowess, but the vibrant vitality of an old industrial base in a new era. Changchun is accelerating at its own pace, adding "intelligent wings" to the comprehensive revitalization of Jilin Province.