The World Robot Conference 2023 (WRC 2023) opened at the Beiren Etrong International Exhibition & Convention Center in Yizhuang, Beijing, on Aug. 16. The annual event stands as a leading platform for promoting exchanges and collaborations in the robotics sector, playing a crucial role in the emergence of innovative enterprises and fortifying the industry's value chain.

This year, the conference boasts six primary forums and nearly 30 thematic forums. For the first time, the World Robot Expo will introduce 10 major application scenarios, showcasing the newest technologies, products, solutions, and applications in robotics.

Among the 13 robotics companies based in Yizhuang participating in WRC 2023, eight are specialized and sophisticated small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) producing new and unique products. Additionally, five of these enterprises are dubbed "little giants" — a descriptor for standout SMEs engaged in manufacturing, catering to specialized markets, and wielding advanced technologies.

Su Guobin, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, emphasized that hosting the World Robot Conference in Beijing plays an important role in driving innovation within the city's robotics industry.

Since its debut in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area (also known as Beijing E-Town) in 2015, the World Robot Conference has been a driving force behind the advancement of both Beijing E-Town and the wider robotics industry in the city. Many robotics companies based in Yizhuang have flourished in harmony with the conference. Presently, the robotics sector in Beijing E-Town stands robust, with a holistic industrial chain spanning core robotic elements, integrated systems, and applications. The sector's output value has surged to 7.5 billion yuan ($1 billion), with key products like core components now being domestically produced.