(Yicai) June 7 -- China established the National Humanoid Robot Innovation Center this week to promote the development of open-source humanoid robot prototypes. The center will build a complex in Shanghai that will be able to simultaneously train 1,000 robots by 2027.

The training hub, which will start off with space for 100 robots, will lower the entry threshold for the research and development of humanoid robots, promote technology iteration and optimization, boost technological development and help their practical application in general scenarios, Xu Bin, general manager of the new center, said yesterday.

Shanghai was chosen as the location of the center because of its strong foundation in leading industries such as biomedicine, integrated circuits and artificial intelligence, as well as its emphasis on high-end manufacturing, Xu said at the 2024 China Humanoid Robot Developers Conference and Third Zhangiiang Robotics Eco Summit.

The center will step up the development of open-source humanoid robot prototypes, said Zhang Ying, director of the Shanghai Municipal Economic and Informatization Commission.

The center has also launched the OpenLoong open source community website to provide developers, researchers and humanoid robot enthusiasts around the world with a comprehensive, in-depth and approachable resource library, Xu said. This will accelerate the development of humanoid robots through the sharing of knowledge and technology,

The center has also set up a humanoid robot industry fund that is expected to accumulate CNY2 billion (USDS276 million) in the initial phase and eventually reach CNY10 billion (USD1.4 billion).

Editor: Kim Taylor