"We want to collaborate with Korean companies, universities, and research institutes in rehabilitation and medical care," said Zhou Bin, co-founder of Fourier, a leading Chinese humanoid robot company.
Zhou made the remarks during an interview with reporters at the Smart Factory + Automation World 2026 (AW2026) held at COEX in Seoul on Wednesday. Fourier is among China's top robotics firms alongside Agibot, Unitree, and Leju. The company secured investment from SoftBank Vision Fund and Saudi Aramco in 2022, backed by its robotics solution technology.
"Korea has Go players like Lee Se-dol and Lee Chang-ho who create something from nothing," Zhou said. "The robotics industry is the same."
He noted that Korea has many companies with exceptional expertise in specific fields, while China's robotics industry draws strength from systematization and versatility through companies with diverse technological capabilities across various sectors.
China is rapidly advancing its competitiveness in humanoid robotics. The country has more than 10,000 robotics-related companies, including 25 suppliers of robotic hand components and 30 suppliers of linear actuators for legs—up to five times more than U.S. counterparts in each category. Chinese robotics firms attracted 38 billion yuan (approximately 8 trillion won) in investment last year, positioning them to dominate essential component supply chains and secure price advantages.
This momentum was evident at the exhibition. Humanoid robots from Agibot, Unitree, and Leju were on full display, walking around the exhibition entrance and waving at visitors. Attendees expressed amazement, saying "The robot dances like a human" and "Where did it learn to dance?"
The mass-production model of Atlas, the humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Boston Dynamics, made its Korean debut at the event, drawing significant attention from visitors.
"This is our second consecutive year at the exhibition, but we're seeing notably higher interest in robots this year," said an industry official. "We're receiving many inquiries about how robots can be utilized in industrial settings."