At the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) thematic session on "Physical AI and Embodied Intelligent Robot Innovation Ecosystem Exchange," held in Beijing on September 11, 2026, Zhang Feng, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese Institute of Electronics Council and former Member of the Party Leadership Group and Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, delivered a keynote address. He expressed a warm welcome to all attendees, noting the significance of gathering during the golden autumn season.

Zhang Feng highlighted that embodied intelligence has been featured in the government work report for two consecutive years. As a key future industry nurtured by the state, it has now entered a critical phase driven by both technological scaling and commercial application. He emphasized that artificial intelligence is undergoing a major transition, moving from digital virtual intelligence in the cloud toward the physical world, where it can perceive, act, and interact. Physical AI serves as the vital link bridging digital simulation and the real world, while humanoid robots and other physical carriers represent key vehicles for the deployment of general artificial intelligence and a core track for developing new quality productive forces.

He pointed out that 2026 marks a pivotal turning point for the industry. Physical AI and embodied intelligence are emerging from laboratory demonstration stages, with the core industry challenge now shifting toward converting technological capabilities into genuine commercial value. Rapid iterations in world models and physics engines are propelling humanoid robots from single-point capabilities toward general intelligence. Meanwhile, demand in sectors such as industrial manufacturing, healthcare and elderly care, and special operations continues to expand, with policy, capital, technology, and market forces forming a cohesive development momentum. However, he acknowledged that there remains a considerable gap before large-scale commercialization and widespread adoption can be achieved.

Zhang Feng then shared several perspectives for industry colleagues to consider. First, he called for jointly building a self-controlled industrial ecosystem to solidify the industry's development foundation. He noted that industry maturity relies on open-source practices, openness, and collaborative development. The Chinese Institute of Electronics has been actively involved in formulating humanoid robot policies and standards and advancing the construction of the China Humanoid Robot and Embodied Intelligence Hundred Talents Initiative. Moving forward, the Institute will collaborate with institutions such as the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center and the Shanghai National-Local Co-built Humanoid Robot Innovation Center to advance the embodied intelligence open-source initiative, co-build and share high-quality industry datasets, and lower R&D barriers for enterprises. Efforts will also accelerate the establishment of national-level embodied intelligence testing and validation platforms, providing full-chain services spanning algorithm training, system integration, and performance evaluation. Additionally, the Institute will push forward the development of an industry-academia integration alliance, linking universities to cultivate interdisciplinary engineering talent and address the industry's talent gap.

Second, he emphasized the dual approach of technological breakthroughs and scenario-based deployment to transition from technical benchmarks to essential industrial needs. On one hand, efforts should focus on foundational technology development, targeting areas such as world models, physical simulation, VLA large models, high-precision sensing, and localized edge computing, to overcome technical pain points including Sim2Real migration, dexterous manipulation, and brain-body coordination. On the other hand, scenario-driven approaches should be pursued, avoiding mere technological showmanship and instead conducting pilot demonstrations based on real demands in flexible industrial operations, high-risk special working conditions, and healthcare and domestic services. He called for deep collaboration among complete machine manufacturers, scenario providers, and supply chain enterprises, using scenario feedback to drive iterative improvements in software and hardware, gradually building a sustainable commercial closed loop.

Third, he stressed the importance of advancing standards governance and open cooperation in parallel to secure the industry's stable and long-term development. As the industry grows rapidly, standards, ethics, and safety governance must advance in tandem. He urged acceleration in developing domestic industry standards, active participation in international standard-setting, and refinement of embodied intelligence ethics norms to maintain safety bottom lines. While consolidating domestic supply chain security, international exchanges should also be actively pursued, exploring "technology + ecosystem" pathways for global expansion and sharing China's practical experience in digital-physical integration. He also advised stakeholders to rationally assess the sector's popularity, distinguish between technological innovation and conceptual bubbles, and guide the industry from parameter competition toward creating tangible value.

In conclusion, Zhang Feng noted that physical AI and embodied intelligent robots connect cutting-edge AI innovation with the real economy. CIFTIS provides an efficient platform for exchange, and he expressed sincere hopes that participants would fully share ideas, connect resources, and jointly explore technological pathways and business models to build an open and win-win innovation ecosystem. He reaffirmed that the Chinese Institute of Electronics will continue to serve as a bridge, providing services in technical exchange, results commercialization, standards co-building, and talent cultivation, working hand in hand with industry colleagues to drive the high-quality development of China's embodied intelligence industry. He concluded by wishing the event complete success and all guests health and smooth work.