Global robotics sourcing center opens in Huaqiangbei

Guests attend a ceremony marking the establishment of the Global Robot Sourcing Center in Huaqiangbei on Wednesday. Photos from WeChat account "低空圈”

The Global Robot Sourcing Center was officially launched Wednesday in Huaqiangbei — the world's largest electronics market — to support the area's goal of becoming a global go-to destination for robotics sourcing.

As China’s first robotics hub offering full industrial chain support and customized R&D, the center brings together suppliers, developers, and buyers to form a complete service ecosystem. It spans transactions, prototype development, hands-on experience, and commercialization, covering everything from components to finished products.

The center features a wide range of products, including AI smart toys, industrial robots, household service robots, and large specialized robots. It also features core components such as chips, sensors, motors, and algorithm modules, creating a closed-loop ecosystem.

Whether it is individual consumers hunting for entertainment robots, companies in need of industrial equipment, or organizations commissioning custom solutions, the center aims to be a one-stop destination.

Officials representing Futian district government and representatives from Xi’an University of Science and Technology announce the inauguration of the Shenzhen Research Institute of Xi’an University of Science and Technology during the ceremony Wednesday.

During the center's opening ceremony, the establishment of the Shenzhen Research Institute of Xi’an University of Science and Technology was announced. The institute is set to become a key driver of innovation in Huaqiangbei, pursuing cutting-edge research in AI, humanoid robot actuation, intelligent control, safety technology, and embedded large models. It will partner with local firms to build labs, refine prototypes, and speed the commercialization of research outcomes.

Humanoid robots perform to celebrate the opening of the Global Robot Sourcing Center during the ceremony Wednesday.

With 3,500 manufacturers, 4,000 R&D institutions, and 700,000 visitors per day, Huaqiangbei offers an unmatched living lab. Rapid product validation and dense real-world use cases make it China’s most prominent robotics testing ground.

Now evolving into the world’s first street-level human-robot ecosystem, Huaqiangbei is moving robotics out of the lab and into daily life — from public services to retail — as makers, engineers, and entrepreneurs work side by side with machines to drive a new era of human-machine collaboration.