Fujian launched its first industrial robot technology application skills contest in the city of Quanzhou on July 25 in a bid to discover outstanding regional talents.

Practical skills including installation, debugging, and operating industrial robots take up 80 percent of the test content, which has been designed in accordance with national occupational standards for computer programmers.

In total, 90 vocational workers and students have been separated into two categories with the top three performers in each group progressing to a national competition later this year. These individuals will receive honorary titles from the local administration.

Other participants who pass the examinations will receive certificates recognizing their vocational skills. The competition comes in a time when Fujian is increasingly seeking well-educated talents in the field of robotics as the use of smart equipment increases across the province.

In 2016, following an investment of 5.5 billion yuan ($810 million) Fujian installed 7,400 machines to replace 20,000 workers, according to Lan Wen, deputy director of the provincial commission of economy and information technology.

According to Lan, the government will guide vocational schools to increase the number of programs involved in training workers in robotics and aim to coordinate public and private resources to cultivate high-end skills talents.

The launch of Fujian’s first industrial robot technology application skills contest taking place in Quanzhou on July 25. [Photo/mnw.cn]