First Special Robot Science and Industry Integration Conference Held in Dalian

First Special Robot Science and Industry Integration Conference Held

On January 22, the inaugural Special Robot Science and Industry Integration Conference was held in Dalian, Liaoning Province. This event was jointly organized by the China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Dalian Municipal Science and Technology Bureau.

The conference focused on the theme of “Integration of Special Robotics Science and Industry with Scenario Cultivation”. It aimed to implement the decisions and strategies of the Central Committee and the State Council regarding accelerating high-level technological self-reliance and promoting the integration of technological innovation with industrial development. In accordance with the requirements of the State Administration for Market Regulation, the conference provided a platform for in-depth exchanges on the latest developments in special robotics technology and industrial practices, fostering consensus on development, enhancing collaborative cooperation, and accelerating the deep integration of special robotics technology and industry.

During the conference, significant achievements were made, including the initiation of the “Special Robot Hundred-Person Association” platform. This platform aims to create an integrated innovation system that encompasses government, industry, academia, research, finance, and application, facilitating technology transfer, practical implementation, and industrial collaboration. Additionally, the “Dalian Initiative on Special Robot Development” was released, which includes five development proposals: “intelligent, safe, green, open, and inclusive,” guiding the high-quality development of special robotics through high-level scientific innovation.

Special robots are crucial for driving transformation and upgrading in key sectors such as petroleum, chemicals, electricity, emergency response, and firefighting. They are gradually transitioning from a technology verification phase to a period focused on practical applications. The “Special Robot Hundred-Person Association” is dedicated to establishing a virtuous ecosystem where demand drives research and development, which in turn supports industry, ultimately feeding back into research and development. The initial members of this platform were convened by the China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute and the Shenyang Institute of Automation, emphasizing a dual approach of technology-driven and scenario-supported collaboration. Together, these institutions aim to connect the entire chain of “technology research and development – scenario validation – standard implementation – industry transformation.”

The platform is organized under a “1+4+N” structure, consisting of over 100 accomplished young and middle-aged scientists in the field of special robotics. It includes one decision-making body, four special groups, and multiple sub-scenario groups. In the future, the platform will focus on four key areas: collaborative breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, co-creation and sharing of typical scenarios, refinement of standard systems, and efficient connections among industrial resources. This will promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, financial chain, and talent chain, creating a collaborative engine to support the development of the special robotics industry.

The conference also established a multi-level, specialized exchange and display platform. In the main session, five experts presented keynote reports on topics such as the technological development of special robots, applications in nuclear power, and pathways to industrialization. The breakout sessions concentrated on industrial scenarios, emerging scenarios, and public service scenarios, facilitating in-depth discussions to accurately address specific field demands and explore pathways for scenario implementation and collaborative innovation. A number of technical achievements with independent intellectual property rights were showcased, highlighting the solid progress of China’s special robotics technology from following to catching up, and ultimately leading the field.

The convening of this conference marks a new stage for China’s special robotics industry, characterized by consensus-building, collaborative efforts, and deep integration. By creating a high-level exchange platform, it will promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, financial chain, and talent chain, providing strong support for cultivating new productive forces and advancing the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse and a technologically advanced nation.

Representatives from the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Dalian Municipal Government, along with over 100 representatives from key universities, research institutes, leading enterprises, technical organizations, and industry associations in the field of special robotics, participated in this conference.