Shanghai unveils action plan to build a world-class embodied intelligence industry by 2027

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The Shanghai Municipal Government recently released an implementation plan to accelerate the development of its embodied intelligence industry, setting ambitious goals to be achieved by 2027.

The city aims to deliver at least 20 core technological breakthroughs in areas such as embodied models and embodied data, establish no fewer than four high-quality incubators, and gather 100 leading industry players. The plan also calls for the deployment of 100 cutting-edge application scenarios and the promotion of 100 internationally competitive products, with the sector's total output projected to exceed 50 billion yuan.

Photo credit: Shanghai  Municipal Government 

The roadmap outlines five strategic pillars: model-driven innovation, development of public platforms, application demonstration, coordinated ecosystem and supply chain growth, and the creation of a world-class industrial ecosystem.

In terms of innovation, the plan emphasizes a model-centric approach powered by AI, with a focus on building an independent, end-to-end technological innovation chain for embodied intelligence. Key areas of support include perception and decision-making models, motion control systems, embodied data and collaboration technologies, and autonomous operating systems. Government subsidies may cover up to 30% of total project investment, capped at 50 million yuan per project.

To bolster infrastructure, the plan proposes the creation of five city-level public platforms—focused on computing power, training grounds, pilot-scale production, investment services, and equipment leasing. These platforms will address common industry needs and form the foundation for long-term development. Projects that build innovation service platforms may receive up to 50% in funding support, with a ceiling of 20-million-yuan per initiative.

The city will also leverage its strengths in sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and domestic services to drive embodied intelligence applications. By collecting use-case scenarios and issuing targeted challenge tasks, it aims to cultivate new business models. Demonstration projects integrating innovation and application may qualify for subsidies of up to 20% of the investment cost, with a maximum of 10 million yuan per project.

The plan stresses the importance of coordinated development across industrial clusters and supply chains. Shanghai aims to optimize city-wide resource allocation, accelerate the commercialization of embodied intelligence hardware, strengthen core component development, and support leading enterprises. It also seeks to foster specialized industrial clusters and high-quality collaboration across the entire value chain. Key ecosystem goals include promoting open-source innovation, developing standards, addressing safety and ethical concerns, attracting talent, and enhancing international cooperation.