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On March 6, 2025, the 2025 Shanghai International Industrial Automation and Robotics Exhibition (CSIE) successfully wrapped up at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. As one of the world's largest trade fairs in industrial automation, the four-day event featured 632 companies from 25 countries and regions, spanning 120,000 square meters and attracting 51,741 professional visitors. Notably, multinational corporations accounted for 37 percent of exhibitors, while participation from countries along the Belt and Road initiative saw a 28 percent year-on-year increase, underscoring the strong global interest in China's industrial automation market.
The exhibition highlighted the latest advancements in global industrial automation technologies and breakthroughs in intelligent manufacturing. Additionally, through high-level forums, it served as a platform for industry experts, scholars, and business leaders to engage in in-depth discussions on the future of smart manufacturing.
Summit: A Collision of Ideas and the Echo of Wisdom
At the Electronic Equipment Manufacturing Technology Innovation Forum, held alongside the exhibition, Zhu Zhaoying—expert committee member of the National Artificial Intelligence Standards and President of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Industry Research Institute—delivered a keynote speech titled "AI-Driven New Trends in Electronic Manufacturing Development." He shared striking insights, revealing that while Chinese concept stocks saw an average decline of 67 percent in 2024, the first two months of 2025 witnessed a tenfold rebound in valuations for leading companies. Meanwhile, global asset management giants like Goldman Sachs and BlackRock increased their holdings in Chinese tech stocks at a rate of $500 million per day. This dramatic turnaround signals a profound transformation in China’s AI ecosystem.
Zhu Zhaoying's Core Insights
Digital China Construction Planning: According to the Digital China Construction Master Plan, China's investment in digital infrastructure has already surpassed approximately 5 trillion yuan in recent years. While investment in the data resource system is still in its early stages, its future scale is expected to rival that of digital infrastructure, presenting significant growth opportunities.
From "Integration into the Global System" to "Building an Independent Ecosystem: Zhu Zhaoying highlighted the significant transition Chinese tech companies have undergone in recent years—from integrating into the global system to establishing an independent ecosystem. Previously, domestic enterprises were deeply embedded in overseas AI technology frameworks. However, with continuous technological advancements, they have successfully optimized vertical domain models and independently developed foundational models, gradually shaping a uniquely domestic AI ecosystem. Despite these achievements, China still faces critical "bottleneck" challenges in self-developed AI computing systems and high-end chips within key areas of the industrial chain, underscoring the urgent need for technological breakthroughs.
AI as a New Productive Force Engine: Artificial intelligence serves as the core engine driving the development of new productive forces. The emergence capabilities of large language models are accelerating the path toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Unlocking AI’s commercial value is essential for the success of this technological revolution, necessitating a careful balance between innovation and industrial application.
Development Recommendations: Zhu Zhaoying emphasized the importance of developing industry-specific vertical models built on the foundation of general models. By integrating general models with domain-specific ones, businesses can maximize AI's potential—expanding application value, improving model generalization and computational efficiency, and addressing specialized needs while optimizing knowledge transfer. This "general + vertical" dual-drive approach not only accelerates AI adoption but also effectively tackles industry-specific challenges, generating greater economic value.
Insights from Other Experts
Yu Xiaoguang (Manager, Lianying Laser Process R&D Center): Yu Xiaoguang highlighted the evolution of laser technology from single-use applications to comprehensive solutions, enhancing precision and adaptability in industrial automation. He emphasized significant breakthroughs in laser welding, particularly in the new energy vehicle and 3C electronics industries.
Meng Qun (Solution Manager, Schneider Electric China): Meng Qun examined the core value of the EAE platform, highlighting its hardware-software separation, robust edge computing capabilities, and scalable architecture. By virtualizing physical devices into software-based objects, the platform streamlines system development and deployment while integrating advanced technologies like 5G and AI, empowering enterprises with greater flexibility in digital transformation.
Liu Hongjiao (General Manager, AUBO Robotics China): Liu Hongjiao highlighted the growing role of collaborative robots in industrial automation, emphasizing the need to balance safety, operational convenience, and cost control for broader adoption in human-machine collaboration. She introduced the key advantages of AUBO collaborative robots and the ARCS robot operating system, which enable enterprises to achieve flexible production and intelligent upgrades.
Seizing Opportunities, Embracing Challenges
The 2025 Shanghai International Industrial Automation and Robotics Exhibition was more than just a showcase of cutting-edge technology—it served as a key indicator of global smart manufacturing trends. Expert insights underscored China’s evolution in the AI industry, shifting from a follower to a leader, while also emphasizing the critical need for breakthroughs in core technologies to sustain this momentum.