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As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, for now generative AI has grabbed the spotlight, especially the chatbots developed by OpenAI, DeepSeek, and numerous competitors. However, another phase of AI development is well underway and is expected to grow dramatically over the next 10 years: physical AI, or robotics (Exhibit 1).

EXHIBIT 1

A Road Map of AI Innovation

We see many companies in emerging Asia already establishing themselves as global leaders in robotics—creating attractive opportunities for society and investors alike. While the AI revolution is opening a world of possibilities, how do investors choose strong growth companies in such a rapidly evolving industry?

For us, it’s staying focused on the bottom line: We actively seek out companies with sustainable earnings growth—not just the promise of it down the road. Strong, long-term forces have made robotics a reality in emerging Asia, and the outlook for future growth is bright. 

The global robotics market is projected to surge over the next decade thanks to advances in AI and the increasing integration of AI into humanoid robots. By region, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow the fastest, with the robotics market tripling in size by 2034.1 (Exhibit 2)

EXHIBIT 2

Asia-Pacific Robotics Market 

As of July 2025 

Source: Market Research Future

The need for labor in factories and warehouses as e-commerce expands combined with the potential benefits of robotics in manufacturing—increased efficiency, lower costs, and higher quality—has prompted many Asian governments to support its development. In several high-population countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea, robots are also expected to help solve the problem of shrinking workforces as populations age.2

China has been leading the charge. In a country with more than 6 million factories generating some $4 trillion in output annually, or 40% of China’s GDP,3 the Chinese government has been an avid supporter. Policies—notably the “Made in China 2025” campaign launched in 2015—have aimed to make China the leader in robotics, using tax and purchasing incentives to drive both manufacturing and adoption. National and local governments are also actively fostering collaboration between private and public sectors, most recently in March 2025 with a state-backed long-term venture capital fund that aims to raise ¥1.4 trillion ($138 billion). Today, China is the biggest manufacturer of robots and as of mid-2024, held around two-thirds of global robotics patents.4

In South Korea, which has undergone the most rapid aging in population,5 the government began to target robotics for growth as far back as 2008 and has released specific goals every five years since 2009. In April of this year, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy launched a consortium dedicated to developing humanoid robots.6 The country now ranks fourth globally in manufacturing of industrial robots—and first in density of usage (as measured by the number of robots per 10,000 workers).

Many industrial companies in North Asia are capitalizing on their leading positions in their core businesses to participate in the growing robotics market. In China, for example, electronics manufacturers have expanded to include new units dedicated to industrial robotics and industrial automation.

Similarly in Taiwan, home to semiconductor manufacturing giant TSMC, the development of humanoid robots is expected to drive semiconductor growth over the long term.

Although north Asia may be the biggest growth driver to date, robotics hubs have sprung up throughout Asia, from Hong Kong to Singapore and India. Regional demand is strong as emerging economies industrialize, and the ongoing reconfiguration of supply chains outside of China is helping drive growth in southeast Asia.7

In addition to industrials, another sector in emerging Asia is playing a critical role in the development of robotics: automotive companies. Autos and robotic systems share some key components, which makes the expansion almost seamless.  

Automakers, for example, are integrating core robotic elements like perception (sensing the environment) into their advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), which include automatic braking and lane-changing. ADAS, in turn, have provided automakers with the building blocks to develop autonomous driving and robotaxis.

Electric vehicle (EV) makers have been applying their technology expertise to build humanoid robots. While Tesla grabbed headlines with Optimus in 2022, Xiaomi in China followed quickly with its CyberOne. Last December, China’s BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, launched a division focused on humanoid robots, with the goal of improving efficiency and precision in its factories.

Auto component suppliers are also leveraging their expertise. Taiwan-based Minth Group, for example, has drawn on its intelligent exterior design and actuator structural parts capabilities, along with its global production footprint, to develop integrated joint designs, motor drive technology, and wireless charging systems for robots and limb structural parts, among other systems.

Notes
1. Market Research Future, July 2025. Asia-Pacific Robotics Market Size, Share, Analysis and Trends 2034
2. Peterson Institute for International Economics, January 2024. “China’s Population Decline is Getting Close to Irreversible.”
3. Asian Robotics Review, Special Report, 2025. The Rise of China’s Robotics Industry.
4. Ibid
5. Journal of the Economics of Ageing, October 2021. “The effects of population aging on South Korea’s economy: The National Transfer Accounts approach.”
6. The Chosun Daily, 11 April 2025. “South Korea launches alliance to develop AI humanoids for manufacturing.”
7. Market Research Future, July 2025. Asia-Pacific Robotics Market Size, Share, Analysis and Trends 2034

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Published on 19 September 2025.

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