A major competition aimed at accelerating the transformation of high-quality smart elderly care service robot projects from "competition prototypes" into replicable "industry benchmarks" was held in Langfang, Hebei province, from May 25 to 26. The 2026 Smart Elderly Care Service Robot Application Competition was themed "Robots Empower Elderly Care, Technology Warms the Sunset Years." It featured two main tracks: rehabilitation robots and elderly care service robots, encompassing eight core competition categories such as daily life assistance, mobility support, and health monitoring. Nearly 70 organizations and teams from across China participated, showcasing over 80 smart elderly care products. Beijing AiRobot Technology Co., Ltd. and Suzhou Yilinuo Nursing Robot Co., Ltd. won the first prize in the rehabilitation robot and elderly care service robot tracks, respectively.
Ma Xiayi, Marketing Director of Suzhou Yilinuo Nursing Robot Co., Ltd., introduced their winning product: "Our device is called an Intelligent Excretion Care Robot. It functions like a smart toilet integrated into a bed, fundamentally solving issues of incomplete and untimely manual care."
As China's population aging continues to deepen, traditional elderly care faces challenges including a shortage of caregivers, inconsistent service standards, and high care costs. By the end of 2025, the population aged 60 and above in Hebei province is projected to account for nearly a quarter of its total resident population. Addressing the demand for smart elderly care, the competition also hosted events such as innovation achievement releases and industry keynote discussions. Experts, tech companies, research institutes, and investment institutions gathered to systematically analyze the current state of the elderly care robot industry, cutting-edge technological trends, and pathways for market implementation.
To accelerate the practical application of competition outcomes, Langfang will introduce special support policies, including dedicated computing power subsidies for participating projects and companies that establish local operations. As one of the event organizers, Yungang Peiban New Intelligent Human (Langfang) Technology Co., Ltd., leveraging the top-tier computing resources from Runze Technology's seven major intelligent computing centers, will continue to provide discounted computing power support to participating teams. This support helps teams refine their algorithms and products using real competition data, shortening the transition period from prototype testing to real-world application.
Zhou Chaonan, Chairman of Yungang Peiban New Intelligent Human (Langfang) Technology Co., Ltd., stated: "We will focus on strengthening the supply chain and manufacturing capabilities. To enable continuous iteration, we will conduct research and development from the initial concept (0 to 1) through to scaling (1 to 10). We will also work on providing customized and personalized solutions."
The competition showcased China's innovative achievements in applying smart elderly care service robots in real-world scenarios. It is also expected to further enhance resource connections among government departments, research institutions, universities, robotics companies, elderly care facilities, industrial parks, and investment organizations.
Mao Hongling, Chief Engineer of the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized: "We must effectively utilize and transform the results of this competition. This involves leveraging various policies, funds, and support conditions to build a comprehensive ecosystem. We also plan to establish training grounds for smart elderly care service robots, including shared factories, to create a favorable environment for the industry's development."