China in robotics research
China writes the largest share of the 10% most cited robotics papers, 31.5% against 16.0% for the United States, but the United States leads among the 1% most cited.
Data: OpenAlex, research published 2021–2025, pulled 23 October 2026. Definition version 0.5.
China's share rose by 1.7 points and the US share fell by 3.1
The six countries with the largest shares in 2024–2025, against 2021–2023.
2021–20232024–2025Share of the 10% most cited papers
The numbers behind the chart
| Country | 2021–2023 | 2024–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30.7% | 32.4% | +1.7 pts |
| United States | 17.5% | 14.4% | −3.1 pts |
| Italy | 7.4% | 5.3% | −2.1 pts |
| Hong Kong | 2.6% | 4.3% | +1.7 pts |
| United Kingdom | 5.3% | 4.0% | −1.3 pts |
| Germany | 5.4% | 3.5% | −1.9 pts |
China leads 5 of 7 sub‑areas
Another country leads robot foundation models and general-purpose robot learning (United States) and human-robot interaction and collaborative robots (Italy). Each paper is sorted into one sub-area by an AI model reading its title and abstract (92% agreement with hand labels on 200 papers).
Share of the sub-area's papers in the top 10%: China against the strongest other country
The numbers behind the chart
| Sub-area | Technology | Papers | China | Strongest other country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tactile sensing and electronic skin | Advanced robotics | 54 | 47.2% (1st) | Singapore 7.0% |
| Legged locomotion and humanoid robots | Advanced robotics | 66 | 35.5% (1st) | United States 13.3% |
| Soft robots and artificial muscles | Advanced robotics | 289 | 40.0% (1st) | United States 20.5% |
| Motion planning and control | Advanced robotics | 48 | 28.7% (1st) | United States 13.1% |
| Grasping and dexterous manipulation | Advanced robotics | 61 | 23.3% (1st) | United States 13.8% |
| Robot foundation models and general-purpose robot learning | Advanced robotics | 30 | 16.6% (2nd) | United States 27.1% |
| Human-robot interaction and collaborative robots | Advanced robotics | 94 | 10.4% (3rd) | Italy 28.8% |
Year by year, institutions and the papers behind it: Advanced robotics.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is China's highest‑ranked institution, 1st in the world
Chinese institutions in the world's top ten
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University1st in advanced robotics
- Zhejiang University3rd in advanced robotics
- Harbin Institute of Technology6th in advanced robotics
- Tsinghua University7th in advanced robotics
Ranked among all institutions worldwide by share of the top 10%.
Who China writes the top papers with
- CNUSUnited States47 papers
- CNHKHong Kong33 papers
- CNSGSingapore18 papers
- CNGBUnited Kingdom17 papers
Shared papers in the top 10%. 40.3% of all top papers here have authors in more than one country.
China's top papers are cited from China more than its size predicts
Citations from a paper's own country, against the share expected from that country's size in the field.
Up to 100 of China's most cited single-country papers. Home citers include authors citing their own earlier work.
Questions
Which country leads robotics research?
China writes the largest share of the 10% most cited robotics papers, 31.5% against 16.0% for the United States, but the United States leads among the 1% most cited. Measured by each country's share of the most cited papers published 2021–2025.
Is China ahead of the US in robotics research?
China is ahead in advanced robotics (31.5% to 16.0%). Among the 1% most cited, the United States leads advanced robotics.
Is China's share growing?
Yes: China's share of the 10% most cited papers went from 30.7% in 2021–2023 to 32.4% in 2024–2025, while the US share went from 17.5% to 14.4%.
Which Chinese institutions lead robotics research?
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Harbin Institute of Technology and Tsinghua University: each is in the world's top ten by share of the most cited papers in advanced robotics.
Which countries come next after China and the US?
Italy, United Kingdom and Germany.
What does this measure, and what does it not?
Each country's share of the most cited research papers published 2021–2025, with each paper's credit split between its authors' countries. Robotics here is advanced robotics: humanoid, legged, soft and collaborative robots, manipulation and robot learning. It does not measure industrial robot installations, robot makers, sales or factory automation. Definitions and method: each technology's page and the method page.
The data, and where to go next
- Advanced roboticsEvery country, institutions, papers
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- China in semiconductor researchChina leads all three
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