(Yicai) June 16 -- Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province, has rolled out a three-year action plan to position itself as a leading hub for humanoid robots. The plan includes the creation of a CNY1 billion (USD139 million) industry fund and outlines a multi-pronged strategy that offers support across technology, policy and real-world applications.

The action plan focuses on real-world applications, strengthens policy guidance on core technologies, key components and other aspects, as well as promotes the pilot use of key demonstration projects.

The local government will establish a CNY1 billion (USD139 million) Wuhan humanoid robot industry investment fund, said Xie Jiquan, deputy director of the Wuhan Municipal Finance Office.

The municipality will also participate in the establishment of a CNY10 billion (USD1.4 billion) provincial-level investment fund for humanoid robots and artificial intelligence. The city plans to allow for high-risk tolerance, with losses of up to 100 percent for seed and angel investments in a single project.

Wuhan finished building a 7,000-square-meter humanoid robot innovation center in the Donghu New Technology Development Zone on Feb. 5, which aims to bridge the “last mile” of technology development from the laboratory to the production line.

Wuhan will focus on opening up three types of application scenarios, namely high-risk industries like the handling of hazardous materials, manufacturing sectors such as automobiles, and consumer electronics as well as public services including health care and education, said Dong Danhong, director of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology.

There will be a two-sided incentive program from companies that manage to implement real-world use. Testing scenario providers can receive a maximum of CNY1 million (USD139,200) to cover 30 percent of the project investment, whereas robot makers may receive 20 percent of their research and development costs up to a maximum of CNY1 million.

In terms of industrial space planning, Wuhan will set up humanoid robot zones and more than 10,000 square meters of innovation and entrepreneurship areas in the Optics Valley, South Taizi Lake and Hanjiang Bay, said Ming Wenlong, deputy director of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.

In addition, with regard to government procurement, financial funds can be used to purchase new humanoid robot products or solutions that have not yet hit the market. The government will get involved from the R&D stage, first by buying R&D services and then by buying the final products to help open up new markets.

Editor: Kim Taylor