The World Robot Conference (WRC) 2026 officially opened in Beijing on August 20, drawing significant attention with increased participation compared to last year. According to KrASIA, this year’s event featured over 300 exhibitors, marking a roughly 40% rise from 2025, and showcased approximately 3,000 robots across various sectors.
A highlight coinciding with the conference was Unitree Robotics’ initial public offering, which pushed the company’s market capitalization beyond RMB 400 billion (USD 59.4 billion) at its peak, KrASIA reported. This milestone underlines the growing prominence of Chinese robotics firms on the global stage.
For Japanese investors and market watchers, the WRC’s expansion and Unitree’s IPO signal increased competition and innovation in robotics, a sector that Japan has historically led but now faces growing challenges from China’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.