China Launches $138B State-Backed Fund to Accelerate AI and Robotics Innovation

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has unveiled a state-backed venture capital fund targeting long-term investments in robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing technologies. The fund is projected to attract nearly 1 trillion yuan (US$138 billion) over the next two decades, combining capital from local governments and private partners.

The move reinforces China’s ambition to lead global innovation in automation, following a decade-long surge that has seen the country capture more than half of the world’s industrial robot demand. Officials say the fund will strengthen national competitiveness by accelerating humanoid robotics, smart manufacturing, and AI integration. Global experts point to the strategy as a model for scaling innovation and securing technological leadership.