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The industrial robotics industry, a key component of intelligent manufacturing, has evolved over the past half-century. In 2023, China's robot sales surpassed 280,000 units, yet challenges like complex programming, intricate processes, and inconsistent material quality continue to hinder widespread adoption. These barriers have kept industrial robot penetration rates low, preventing sustained market growth. Enhanced intelligence is urgently needed to address these issues.

Humanoid and service robots also face limitations due to their restricted intelligence and autonomy, confining them to basic tasks like vacuuming and window cleaning, resulting in a relatively small market.

Efort Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. ("Efort"), a leading Chinese industrial robotics company, has spent sixteen years in the robotics field. Recognizing market challenges, Efort, along with the National Advanced Manufacturing Industry Investment Fund and Wuhu Science and Innovation Group, established a joint venture—Openmind Smart Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. ("Openmind Robotics"). Openmind Robotics targets the trillion-dollar intelligent robotics market, aiming to "give robots a soul" and focusing on embodied intelligence.

Event scene

On August 21, during the World Robot Conference, Efort and Openmind, in partnership with Tsinghua University and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), launched a joint laboratory in Wuhu. The event also hosted the Young Scientists Forum on Embodied Intelligence, where Efort announced its new strategy to enter the embodied intelligence field.

Launch of the joint laboratories established by Tsinghua University, USTC, Efort, and Openmind Robotics

Top research teams from Tsinghua, USTC, and alumni enterprises gathered, with over a hundred experts, scholars, and industry leaders discussing global trends in robotics and embodied intelligence. Their insights contributed to the development of the joint laboratory.

The newly launched joint laboratories will focus on research in perception, decision-making, planning, and control within embodied intelligence, aiming to drive breakthroughs in robot intelligence. The collaboration will also advance core areas like computing and perception technology, system design, and control strategies, fostering the rapid development of intelligent robotics and enhancing innovation and competitiveness in Anhui Province and across China.

Chapter 1: New Strategy - Openmind Robotics

Embodied intelligence is moving from theory to practice, making its way from academia to the broader world. Efort Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. (Efort), a leader in industrial robotics and intelligent manufacturing in Anhui Province and across China, has embraced this shift. Over the past few years, Efort has achieved significant breakthroughs in intelligent robotics. Since 2017, Efort has launched autonomous robots for various applications, such as painting, welding, and palletizing. These technologies are now in wide use, providing valuable data and real-world scenarios for future research on system migration and capability expansion, driving innovation-led high-quality development.

As Efort Chairman and General Manager You Wei noted, with the rapid development of AI and modern information technology, robotics is on the brink of major breakthroughs. There is an urgent need for intelligent technology to enable domestic robots to leapfrog their competition. Efort has observed that while the robotics industry is booming, especially with the rise of humanoid robot companies, the industry lacks a foundational technology platform similar to iOS, Android, or HarmonyOS. Traditional robotics companies struggle to offer open foundational technologies due to outdated software architectures with tightly coupled layers, limiting developers' freedom and hindering the creation of a robust ecosystem.

Strategic signing with ecosystem partners

To address this, in May, Efort, in collaboration with the National Advanced Manufacturing Industry Investment Fund and Wuhu Science and Innovation Group, co-founded Openmind Smart Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. (Openmind Robotics). This new venture is focused on building a universal technology platform for intelligent robotics. By creating this platform, Openmind Robotics aims to enhance developers' autonomy, build a robust ecosystem, and achieve comprehensive coverage of niche application scenarios.

The name "Openmind Robotics" signifies "unlocking the mind of robots to transform the world." The company's English name, "Openmind Smart Robotics Technology Co., Ltd.," reflects the open nature of this new-generation intelligent robot system. The name also draws inspiration from leading embodied intelligence companies like OpenAI and DeepMind, symbolizing the pursuit of innovation grounded in previous achievements. Efort envisions Openmind Robotics as a pioneer of open systems that, with an open mindset, can drive disruptive innovation and fuel future growth for both Efort and the wider robotics industry.

Additionally, Efort and Openmind Robotics have established strategic partnerships with several ecosystem partners, including Anhui Polytechnic University, the Yangtze River Delta Hart Robotics Industry Technology Research Institute, Beijing Novauto Technology Co., Ltd., the Yangtze River Delta Information Intelligence Innovation Research Institute, and Wuhu Big Data Construction Investment Operation Co., Ltd. These collaborations focus on data collection for embodied intelligence, building training infrastructure, fostering school-enterprise cooperation, and implementing key application scenarios. A strategic signing ceremony was held to announce their collective efforts to create a global hub for innovation and application in the field of embodied intelligence.

Chapter 2:  Leadership Remarks and Vision for the Future

Mayor Xu Zhi delivering his speech

At the event, the Wuhu Municipal Government expressed gratitude to all attendees. Wuhu’s Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor, Xu Zhi, delivered an enthusiastic speech, emphasizing the significance of the joint laboratory as a step forward in Wuhu’s efforts to integrate industry, academia, and research. Wuhu has built China’s first national-level robotics industry cluster, led by companies like Efort, with over 220 related enterprises. The municipal government will continue supporting innovation-driven initiatives and talent development, aiming to make Wuhu a leader in robotics industry development.

Deputy Secretary-General Chen Dan delivering her speech

Chen Dan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Robotics Division of the China Machinery Industry Federation, highlighted the importance of innovation in driving development. As Chinese-made industrial robots become more competitive, Chen encouraged Efort to leverage embodied intelligence technology to create smarter and more user-friendly products.

Vice Dean Wang Yu delivering his speech

Wang Yu, a professor and vice dean at Tsinghua University’s School of Information Science and Technology, noted that Efort’s rapid growth from a school-enterprise collaboration project to a leading robotics company exemplifies deep cooperation between academia and industry. He emphasized that embodied intelligence is crucial for industrial upgrades and social progress. Wang expressed confidence that Efort and Openmind Robotics’ platform would guide universities and set a model for advancing scientific research and industrial transformation.

Executive Dean Wu Heng’an delivering his speech

Wu Heng’an, Executive Dean of the School of Engineering Science at USTC, praised Efort’s strategy. He pointed out that Efort’s robotic products and intelligent solutions are widely used in various manufacturing processes, serving leading enterprises in several industries. Wu expressed confidence that the collaboration between industry and academia, led by Efort and Openmind Robotics, would overcome technical challenges and significantly contribute to national technological innovation and industrial upgrades.

Chapter 3: Collaborative Efforts for Progress

In advancing robotics and embodied intelligence, open collaboration is crucial. Embodied intelligence is a cutting-edge global field with many fundamental and advanced technical challenges. To address these, collaboration between top research teams and industry is essential to drive innovation in this field.

Tsinghua University and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) are leaders in AI and robotics, with strong academic foundations and top-tier talent. Tsinghua has made significant progress in hardware-software optimization and multimodal neural networks, creating comprehensive research loops for key areas like perception, localization, and decision-making in intelligent robots. USTC has achieved breakthroughs in materials sensing, structural actuation, and motion control, advancing humanoid robots' intelligence in perception, decision-making, and execution.

Both universities recognize that innovation cannot thrive in isolation. Accelerating the transition of embodied intelligence from the lab to the market is essential for high-quality development and global advancement in intelligent technology. To this end, Tsinghua University, USTC, and Efort/Openmind are conducting deep collaborative research in embodied intelligence, establishing joint laboratories.

As a key partner, Efort/Openmind will leverage its expertise in industrial robotics to support research from development to application. The labs will focus on core areas like robotic dexterous hands, foundational perception software and hardware, high-precision scene perception, robotic operating systems, and automated data collection and training platforms. Together, they will explore autonomous perception, decision-making, and control technologies for intelligent robots in real-world scenarios, driving innovation through collaboration and resource-sharing.

Chapter 4: Empowering Young Talent for the Future

The Young Scientists Forum on Embodied Intelligence, a key part of the event, attracted significant attention. This dynamic forum brought together young scientists from Tsinghua University, USTC, and experts from various fields. United by their passion for science and vision for the future, they discussed the latest advancements and future trends in embodied intelligence.

Roundtable discussion

During the roundtable discussion, representatives from academia and industry shared insights on research and practical applications, sparking lively exchanges.

Participants appreciated the event as a valuable platform for learning and collaboration. They are confident that embodied intelligence will lead to a brighter future through the combined efforts of young scientists and experts.

Chapter 5: From Industry to Service

Speech by Efort Chairman and CEO You Wei

As a leading robotics company, Efort not only has strong technology and a broad customer base but also a deep understanding of the automation and intelligence needs in manufacturing. Efort is actively integrating top technologies and talent in robotics and AI to drive breakthroughs in intelligent robotics and commercial applications. Additionally, Efort is expanding from industrial applications to service scenarios, transitioning from B2B industrial robots to B2C service robots. Sixteen years after developing its first industrial robot, Efort is embarking on a new journey.

Editor：Lulu

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