On May 26, the China Software Testing Center released the "Evolution and Trend Study of Smart Elder Care Robot Industry" report.

According to the report, China's elder care robot industry has already formed a basic system and is transitioning from the "technology verification" stage to "large-scale application," but the adaptability of technology to complex care scenarios remains a central challenge. The market size of elder care robots in China is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan (approximately 235 billion yen) this year.

Smart elder care robots are service robots designed to meet the daily care and living needs of the elderly. They are equipped with multiple functions such as daily care, entertainment, and communication, and are utilized in nursing homes and to support the lives of elderly people living alone.

As the global population ages, the directions of R&D in elder care robots vary among countries. Japan and South Korea focus on the integration of technology and emotional care, the United States emphasizes intelligence and personalized services, and Europe highlights practicality and reliability. China formulated the "Robot Industry Development Plan" in 2016 to begin applying elder care robots. In 2023, it announced the "Robot + Application Action Implementation Plan" to promote application innovation in various scenarios. In 2025, China led the formulation of international standards for elder care robots. In the same year, the first large-scale model elder care robot "Xiao Xi" became operational in Hangzhou, and key pilot projects for smart elder care robots were launched. (Source/CGTN Japanese)