New center to build up robot parts capabilities

Broader plan seeks to construct 40 such facilities to tackle technology bottlenecks in major industries

China plans to set up a State-level innovation center by the year-end to boost homegrown companies' production capability in key robot components, the minister of industry and information technology, Miao Wei, said on Friday.

The move is part of China's broad plan to tackle technological bottlenecks in key industries. The aim is to build about 40 State-level innovation centers by 2025, to make the country's manufacturing industry smarter, safer and more flexible.