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China dominates ranking of innovative humanoid robot start-ups
The ranking was based on LexisNexis patent data and found just three U.S. firms in the top 10, led by China-based contenders.
China is widening its lead over the United States in humanoid robot innovation, with Chinese firms taking six of the world’s 10 most innovative start-ups in the sector, according to a patent-based ranking released by LexisNexis.
The top five spots in the Patent Asset Index went to Shanghai-based Fourier and AgiBot, Shenzhen-based LimX Dynamics and Pudu Robotics, and Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics. Shenzhen’s Leju Robot ranked ninth, while Germany’s Agile Robots was the only European entrant at seventh.
In contrast, only three U.S. start-ups made the cut, with Figure AI sixth, Apptronik eighth, and Agility Robotics 10th. LexisNexis said it assessed the “strength” of patent assets held by private start-ups that had demonstrated at least one bipedal walking robot.
The study pointed to a clear shift toward China over the past decade, saying Chinese patent filings doubled in interaction systems, expanded by 2.5 times in morphology, and increased fivefold in control and planning architectures. The report also noted the results came as Washington moves to restrict imports of robots, including those made in China.