Blab Tech
Shanghai Hosts First International Embodied Intelligence Expo, Drawing 15,000 Visitors and 200 Leading Companies
On Thursday, the bright lights of Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center flickered into life as the Shanghai International Embodied Intelligence Expo (CIEI 2026) opened its doors. The three‑day event, slated to run through Saturday, brings together almost 200 companies that span the entire embodied‑intelligence supply chain—from perception and decision‑making software to execution hardware, battery storage, automotive connectivity and real‑world application showcases.
Co‑hosted by the China Association for Mechatronics Technology and Application (CAMETA) and Shanghai International Exhibition (Group) Co., Ltd., the expo underscores China’s ambition to lead in a field that blends artificial intelligence with robotics. The venue, a modern coliseum in the heart of Shanghai, accommodated a diverse array of exhibitors, including robotics giants Unitree, Leju Robotics and SIASUN, all of whom have established reputations in China’s automation sector.
More than 15,000 visitors—industry executives, researchers and tech enthusiasts—filled the halls, signaling strong interest in embodied intelligence, the capability of machines to perceive, learn, decide and act in physical environments. The expo’s focus on this frontier technology reflects the broader shift from AI that merely processes data to AI that interacts with the world.
During the opening ceremony, organizers unveiled the 2026 China Embodied Intelligence Industry Development Report. The document defines embodied intelligence as a frontier field that fuses AI and robotics to enable machines to engage with the physical world. It highlights China’s ascent as a global leader, citing the country’s comprehensive manufacturing supply chain, abundant application scenarios and supportive policy environment.
Qu Daokui, president of CAMETA, emphasized the significance of the field: “Embodied intelligence represents a critical leap for AI from ‘knowing to doing’ and is a strategic scenario for fostering new quality productive forces and driving manufacturing transformation.” He called for deeper collaboration across the industry to overcome technological bottlenecks and build globally competitive products.
Industry associations were well represented. Leaders and experts from the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF), the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and the China Electronics Enterprises Association (CEEA) attended to discuss standards, policy directions and technology roadmaps. Their presence underscores the need for coordinated policy and technical guidance.
The expo also attracted overseas participants. Delegates from Swiss and Cameroonian robotics associations joined the event, exchanging views on overseas market‑access compliance, Southeast Asian application scenarios and international robot safety standards. Their involvement signals growing global interest in China’s embodied‑intelligence ecosystem.
CIEI 2026 ran concurrently with several competitions that spotlight practical applications of embodied intelligence. The 2026 National Embodied Intelligence Technology Application Competition, the 2026 Embodied Intelligence Robot Application Scenario Competition and the National College Robot and Algorithm Competition were all scheduled during the expo period, providing a platform for innovators to demonstrate real‑world solutions.
In sum, the Shanghai International Embodied Intelligence Expo has positioned itself as a key platform for showcasing China’s advances in AI‑robotics integration. With a broad mix of companies, industry bodies and international partners, the event highlights the country’s strategic focus on developing embodied intelligence. The alignment with national competitions and the release of the industry development report suggest that China is preparing to set standards and drive market growth in this emerging field. The next steps will involve monitoring how the showcased technologies perform in real‑world scenarios and how the industry responds to the standards and policy discussions that emerged during the event.
Co‑hosted by the China Association for Mechatronics Technology and Application (CAMETA) and Shanghai International Exhibition (Group) Co., Ltd., the expo underscores China’s ambition to lead in a field that blends artificial intelligence with robotics. The venue, a modern coliseum in the heart of Shanghai, accommodated a diverse array of exhibitors, including robotics giants Unitree, Leju Robotics and SIASUN, all of whom have established reputations in China’s automation sector.
More than 15,000 visitors—industry executives, researchers and tech enthusiasts—filled the halls, signaling strong interest in embodied intelligence, the capability of machines to perceive, learn, decide and act in physical environments. The expo’s focus on this frontier technology reflects the broader shift from AI that merely processes data to AI that interacts with the world.
During the opening ceremony, organizers unveiled the 2026 China Embodied Intelligence Industry Development Report. The document defines embodied intelligence as a frontier field that fuses AI and robotics to enable machines to engage with the physical world. It highlights China’s ascent as a global leader, citing the country’s comprehensive manufacturing supply chain, abundant application scenarios and supportive policy environment.
Qu Daokui, president of CAMETA, emphasized the significance of the field: “Embodied intelligence represents a critical leap for AI from ‘knowing to doing’ and is a strategic scenario for fostering new quality productive forces and driving manufacturing transformation.” He called for deeper collaboration across the industry to overcome technological bottlenecks and build globally competitive products.
Industry associations were well represented. Leaders and experts from the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF), the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and the China Electronics Enterprises Association (CEEA) attended to discuss standards, policy directions and technology roadmaps. Their presence underscores the need for coordinated policy and technical guidance.
The expo also attracted overseas participants. Delegates from Swiss and Cameroonian robotics associations joined the event, exchanging views on overseas market‑access compliance, Southeast Asian application scenarios and international robot safety standards. Their involvement signals growing global interest in China’s embodied‑intelligence ecosystem.
CIEI 2026 ran concurrently with several competitions that spotlight practical applications of embodied intelligence. The 2026 National Embodied Intelligence Technology Application Competition, the 2026 Embodied Intelligence Robot Application Scenario Competition and the National College Robot and Algorithm Competition were all scheduled during the expo period, providing a platform for innovators to demonstrate real‑world solutions.
In sum, the Shanghai International Embodied Intelligence Expo has positioned itself as a key platform for showcasing China’s advances in AI‑robotics integration. With a broad mix of companies, industry bodies and international partners, the event highlights the country’s strategic focus on developing embodied intelligence. The alignment with national competitions and the release of the industry development report suggest that China is preparing to set standards and drive market growth in this emerging field. The next steps will involve monitoring how the showcased technologies perform in real‑world scenarios and how the industry responds to the standards and policy discussions that emerged during the event.
