Chinese robotics firms target 'silver economy' with elderly-care robots

A senior resident interacts with "Xia Lan," a humanoid robot, at Shenzhen Nursing Home in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 3, 2025. [Xinhua/Liang Xu]

The 10th World Robot Conference was held from Aug. 8 to 12 in Beijing, capital of China. At the event, various robots demonstrated their capabilities, and multiple innovative products offered visitors novel experiences.

As an innovative solution to the aging population, elderly-care robots are moving from laboratory prototypes to real-world applications, injecting new vitality into the "silver economy."

The robots, ranging from desktop companions to humanoid assistants, are increasingly deployed in homes, communities and care institutions.

Desktop companion robots feature high-definition screens and voice interaction systems that can be placed on bedside tables or in living rooms. Mobile care robots, equipped with wheeled bases, can navigate autonomously through homes, delivering items, cleaning floors and providing other services.

"Between 2016 and 2022, humanoid robots were still a niche market," said Leng Xiaokun, chairman of Leju (Shenzhen) Robotics Co., Ltd.

"We have consistently focused on developing humanoid robots with a clear goal: to bring them into homes, service settings and elderly care," said Leng.

The growth of diverse elderly-care robots is closely linked to demographic trends. Massimiliano Zecca, a professor at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, noted that many countries face similar challenges in rapidly aging societies. How to use technology to address elder care is a shared global challenge.

Zecca said that humanoid elderly-care robots can serve three roles for seniors: health care aide, personal assistant and companion.

According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, the global population aged 60 and over will reach 2.1 billion, including 426 million people aged 80 or older.

"Driven by supportive policies and market demand, China's robotics industry is booming. In the first half of this year, robot manufacturers and component suppliers saw strong average growth in shipments, fueling overall industry expansion," said Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics.

In February this year, the International Electrotechnical Commission officially released the first international standard for elderly-care robots. Led by China in its formulation, the standard marks a new era of standardization, regulation and intelligent development for the global elderly-care robotics industry.

Gu Jie, founder and CEO of Fourier Intelligence, said the R&D of embodied artificial intelligence should focus on interaction systems, soft materials and body language to ensure technology remains human-centered.

As population aging accelerates and science and technology continue to advance, the elderly-care robotics industry has become a vital avenue for meeting societal needs and fostering new quality productive forces.

Experts say realizing the technology's potential requires addressing practical industry challenges and ensuring robots reach ordinary households to support the aging population and improve the welfare of older adults.