People‘s Daily｜Lessons from the Robot “Westward March”: East-West Synergy Drives New Industries in Chongqing

People’s Daily, August 31, Page 9

Only by truly combining “technological feasibility” with “application feasibility” and “commercial feasibility”—refining technology in real-world scenarios and accelerating commercialization in the market—can the seeds and saplings of industrial innovation grow into towering trees.

 

At present, the embodied intelligence industry is witnessing an intriguing two-way convergence.

In Chongqing‘s Dadukou District—a city built on steel—Unitree’s Western Innovation Operation Center was put into use this April. Local authorities proactively reached out, identifying industry pain points such as navigation light inspection on steep banks and topographic surveying in shallow shoals, and jointly explored intelligent solutions. Through secondary development, product iteration, empowering transformation, and expanding the ecosystem, the old industrial base and new technology are joining forces to unlock the “door to the future.”

Since the beginning of this year, companies including Fourier, Galaxy General, and Zhiyuan Innovation have established operations in Chongqing. The city, which boasts 31 major manufacturing categories, leverages its precision machining capacity and vast application scenarios to achieve complementary advantages and mutual success. An increasingly clear trend is emerging: “smart brains” from the eastern innovation frontier are embracing the “strong physiques” of western industrial powerhouses, unleashing vibrant industrial energy.

As the 15th Five-Year Plan begins, China‘s economy is built on a stable foundation, with numerous advantages, strong resilience, and vast potential. The strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the mega-market, the complete industrial system, and the abundant talent pool are becoming ever more prominent. The robot “westward march” vividly demonstrates these four major advantages.

▲ At Unitree’s Western Innovation Operation Center in Dadukou District, a robot performs material handling. Photo by reporter Liu Li.

 

Looking across embodied intelligence, low-altitude equipment, and other sectors, original innovation often originates in eastern first-tier cities, where R&D talent “brainstorming” and industrial demand drive algorithmic breakthroughs and model iteration. Today, these emerging industries are expanding westward, drawn by the complex and diverse real-world application scenarios, comprehensive component supply systems, and rich skilled workforce reserves. As east and west move toward each other, connecting innovation and application chains across regions, cutting-edge technologies are grounded in reality, and traditional manufacturing is revitalized.

New opportunities are embedded in solid industrial foundations, making the transition to new directions smoother. In Bishan District, Chongqing, a leading auto parts manufacturer made a seamless transformation, developing a robot joint in just 45 days. Years of accumulated precision transmission expertise provided a strong backbone for embodied intelligence. As more new technologies empower traditional industries, existing advantages gain the capacity to extend into future application scenarios. This broadens the competitive landscape for traditional industries and enhances their competitiveness. In this sense, innovation and development do not always mean starting from scratch—they can also mean pushing “old skills” to new heights.

New opportunities arise from smooth chain collaboration, fostering a healthier innovation ecosystem. At Chongqing Vocational University of Mechanics and Electronics, the embodied intelligence engineering program was fully enrolled in its first recruitment year. The university-industry collaboration has created an integrated education base, where beginners can rapidly grow into application development and data collection engineers through hands-on training with real robots. As industrial and innovation chains further connect with education and talent chains, former “industry suppliers” have become “ecosystem co-builders” in the development process. This suggests that building a “strong magnetic field” for deep integration of education, technology, and talent is essential to fully unleash innovative potential, ensuring that reform drives innovation and innovation powers long-term development.

New opportunities emerge from expansive application scenarios, enabling more diverse iterative leaps. In Chongqing, from cultural tourism guides and public services to assembly inspection, flexible production, and patrol emergency response, demand “sets the questions,” enterprises “answer the call,” and scenarios are implemented as a matter of routine. Robots and related industries continue to grow through real-world services and production. A healthy industrial ecosystem cannot rely solely on technological breakthroughs—it also depends on real-world application testing and systematic resource allocation. Whether in traditional, emerging, or future industries, only by truly combining technological feasibility with application and commercial feasibility—refining technology in real-world scenarios and accelerating commercialization in the market—can the seeds and saplings of industrial innovation grow into towering trees.

▲ The next-generation “four-legged new mobility species” produced by Chongqing Haochen Embodied Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. Photo by reporter Li Yuanyuan.

 

The robot “westward march” is the result of Chongqing leveraging its industrial advantages, and it is also reshaping the city‘s industrial DNA. Furthermore, R&D in the east and application in the west—innovation on the frontier and transformation in the hinterland—may well be an important pathway for the large-scale development of future industries. As the advantages of east and west are fully coupled, new and old growth drivers deeply integrate, and technological innovation and industrial entities empower each other, future industries will surely grow stronger and more flourishing on this land of creativity and vitality.

 

Source: People’s Daily
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