The Second International Robot Testing & Certification Summit was held at Chongqing Yuelai International Convention Center in Chongqing, on Dec 13.

Global testing and certification institutes, including Underwriters Laboratories from the US, Canadian-based Standards Association, and Switzerland's Societe Generale de Surveillance attended in the summit to the latest in standards and practices in the robots industry.

At the event, 20 robotics companies received quality certificates of robotic products from the National Robot Testing and Certification Center – a qualification introduced at the inaugural summit last year.

The Second International Robot Testing & Certification Summit is held at Chong Yuelai International Convention Center in Chongqing, on Dec 13. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Osman Tokhi, head of the electrical and electronic engineering division at London South Bank University, made a speech detailing the changing requirements in robot safety as the industry gradually shifts from industrial robots to service robots.

The robot industry has been listed as a key development area in the country's "Made in China 2025" strategy, which aims to upgrade the country's manufacturing sector, and Liangjiang is taking a lead.

Tang Zongwei, deputy director of the Liangjiang New Area's administrative committee, said that the government will provide better policy support and investment environment for robotic companies seeking to grow in Liangjiang.

Liangjiang is projected to manufacture 12,000 industrial robots and more than 20,000 service robots and special robots annually by 2020. At that time, the annual production value for robots and intelligent manufacturing is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan ($1.51 billion).

Dr. Osman Tokhi, head of the electrical and electronic engineering division of London South Bank University, makes a speech during the summit. [Photo by Zhao Zidong/xinhuanet.com]

China is the biggest market for industrial robots in the world, accounting for about a third of the global demand. The market volume of China's industrial robots is expected to reach $4.2 billion in 2017 and increase to $5.9 billion by 2020.

The event included a main forum and three sub-forums focusing on standard testing and certification technologies, service robots technology standards and the latest trends in testing and certification.

During the event, 20 robotic companies receive quality certificates of robotic products from the National Robot Testing and Certification Center. [Photo by Zhao Zidong/xinhuanet.com]