According to the analysis, China is showing how industrial policy in this field can look. “For years, China has been consistently pursuing a national robotics strategy to systematically capitalize on the opportunities offered by modern automation,” says Patrick Schwarzkopf of the VDMA’s Robotics + Automation Division. “The five-year plan recently unveiled by Beijing now places intelligent robotics at the center of its development goals. Humanoid robots are opening a new chapter in this effort: The goal is to develop ‘embodied intelligence,’ in which AI software is integrated with physical robotics. Entirely new practical applications of AI for automation in industry and the economy are planned.”

Between Theory and Practice

Here in Germany, too, the direction is clear. 78 percent of respondents consider the use of AI in robotics and automation to be indispensable when it comes to the competitiveness of German industry. At the same time, the data reveals a certain transitional phase: 85 percent already view humanoid robots as an important addition to industrial manufacturing, but 68 percent of respondents say they are still primarily used in pilot projects—without widespread implementation.

“Humanoid robotics is certainly a particularly compelling example of Physical AI, because here, AI in human-like form interacts with the real world,” says Anja Schneider. “We can already say that Physical AI and humanoid robotics will be the top topics at automatica 2027.”

A Good Starting Point, but Questions Remain

The technological logic behind this is less science fiction and more like a modular system: mechanical engineering, sensor technology, control systems, and AI software are converging. A key component of what is known as “Physical AI” is real-world manufacturing data, which is collected and processed via sensors.

And what is the current situation? According to the study, it is quite good. With its highly developed manufacturing facilities, Germany ranks among the countries with the best conditions. With 449 industrial robots installed per 10,000 employees, it has one of the highest robot densities in the world. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), this puts Germany in third place, behind South Korea and Singapore.

The question that remains between the lines: How quickly will this pilot project become standard practice?