The 2026 International Embodied Intelligence Competition will hold an on-site round from Oct 23 to 25 at Zhangjiang Science Hall in Shanghai's Pudong New Area.

The competition aims to establish a national demonstration platform for embodied AI in real-world settings.

Drawing on more than 1,000 application scenarios collected nationwide by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the competition will feature 23 events across nine tracks: manufacturing, inspection and analysis, repair and maintenance, warehousing and logistics, food service and retail, healthcare and wellness, workplace safety, emergency response, and culture, tourism, and educational outreach. More than 200 teams have registered for the competition.

The event will also foster connections among industry, investors, research teams from leading universities worldwide, and embodied AI startups, with the latter invited to compete. Winning teams may attract investment interest worth tens of millions of yuan ($1.5 million) and receive professional fundraising guidance throughout the process.

The competition will also aim to connect participating teams with the 2026 Global Developer Pioneers Summit in October, an AI exhibition in Dubai in December, and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in July 2027, supporting progression from exposure to overseas expansion and commercial application.

Under the phased schedule, task development was scheduled for completion by Sept 30, followed by the setup of simulated production lines, scenario testing, and training.

Afterward, organizers will hold a national online simulation competition from November 2026 to February 2027, followed by a national real-world training competition from March to June 2027. Outstanding teams and solutions will be recommended for the embodied intelligence exhibition at WAIC 2027, helping advance technical validation, practical training, and commercial adoption.

Registration remains open to teams worldwide. For registration details, search online for "2026 International Embodied Intelligence Competition".

Source: Shanghai Observer