News Summaries

China Kicks Off Next Stage of 6G Trials, Aiming for 2030 Rollout

China announced on Jan. 21 that it has moved into the second phase of testing its future 6G mobile network. After a successful first phase that produced more than 300 key technology prototypes, officials say the new round will speed up research, set standards and start building the ecosystem needed for commercial use. The country already boasts the world’s largest 5G infrastructure – over 4.8 million base stations and 5G‑A networks covering 330 cities – and more than 1.2 billion 5G users, roughly two‑thirds of all mobile phone owners. These networks power “smart” factories, unmanned mines and automated ports, showing how high‑speed connectivity can transform traditional industries. Now the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology plans to coordinate three pillars: building more hardware, encouraging real‑world applications, and deepening research. The goal is to have 6G services available around 2030 and widespread by 2035, creating a trillion‑yuan market for new products and services. Experts stress that 6G will blend ultra‑fast communication with artificial intelligence, leveraging China’s strengths in both areas. International cooperation, next‑generation optical links and quantum information are also on the agenda, positioning the nation to lead the next wave of digital innovation.

Chinese Humanoid Robots Win Global Contracts, From Europe to the Middle East

Chinese robot makers are rapidly turning the world stage into a new market for their humanoid machines. Companies such as Hikvision Robotics, Lingzushi Times, UniTree and Accelerate Evolution have set up offices in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Singapore and dozens of other locations, creating a network that now reaches more than 50 countries. To sell abroad they are not just shipping products; they are re‑engineering them to meet local rules. Whether it’s EU safety standards for lasers, U.S. food‑safety codes or fire‑protection requirements, each robot is customized with the right components and certifications. The firms stress that true localization means hiring local engineers, speaking the language of customers and respecting cultural nuances, not merely opening a sales office. The strategy has moved from cheap “product export” to a full‑blown “ecosystem export.” Up‑stream firms supply the core “heart” of the technology, mid‑stream players deliver high‑performance bodies and open platforms, and downstream integrators provide ready‑to‑use solutions for warehousing, firefighting, logistics and even sports. This model was showcased at the 2025 Asia‑Pacific Robot World Cup in Abu Dhabi, where Chinese robots powered boxing matches and a 5‑v‑5 soccer game, earning praise for speed, reliability and the ability to get up after a fall. The UAE’s new robotics association plans to deploy over 200,000 robots by 2030, aiming for a 9 % contribution to GDP, and Chinese firms are expected to play a leading role. As these machines become part of global infrastructure, Chinese companies are also seeking a seat at the table for international safety standards, data‑ethics rules and human‑robot collaboration guidelines.

Quantum Leap: How AI and Quantum Computers Are Joining Forces, Says Guodun Quantum’s Tang Shibiao

Tang Shibiao of Guodun Quantum says the industry is moving from its first experimental stage into a new era of practical quantum machines. The company helped build USTC’s "Zu Chongzhi" superconducting and "JiuZhang" photonic quantum computers, handling everything from chip testing to the room‑temperature electronics that keep the systems running. Guodun is now one of the few firms worldwide that can deliver a complete quantum‑computing platform. Tang stresses that real progress will come when more people can actually use these machines, so the firm is racing to launch a cloud service that lets anyone experiment on a real quantum computer. Their next technical goal is ambitious: develop next‑generation chips with ten‑thousand qubits or more. But a powerful quantum processor alone isn’t enough. Just like classical computers need operating systems and networking, quantum computers will need a whole suite of supporting tools before they can become general‑purpose devices. In the future, quantum and classical computers will work side‑by‑side in cloud‑based clusters, delivering speed‑ups to everyday users. With artificial intelligence exploding, Tang sees a natural partnership: AI can help design quantum algorithms, while quantum computing promises to break through the computational limits that now bottleneck AI. The two technologies, he believes, will drive each other forward in a deep, two‑way relationship.

China’s ‘Artificial Sun’ Race Heats Up: Companies Win Billion‑Yuan Fusion Contracts

The Hefei BEST (Compact Fusion Energy Experimental Device) project is now the fastest‑building fusion plant in China. Jia Dexing, a capacitor maker, announced that its Phase I and II capacitor deliveries are under way and that the company just secured an 80 million‑yuan contract for the next tender, with production slated to start after the Spring Festival. Industry analysts say strong national policy and a clear 2027 completion target are accelerating the commercialization of controllable nuclear fusion. China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan earmarks hydrogen and fusion as future growth engines, and three domestic devices—EAST, BEST and CRAFT—form a tiered research platform. The goal is to light the first human‑scale fusion “lamp” by 2030. At a recent industry conference, dozens of listed firms showcased their roles across the supply chain: AT&M’s tungsten‑copper divertor plates, Western Superconducting’s magnets (used in ITER), East Superconducting’s REBCO tapes, Hefei Forging Machinery’s 2.09 billion‑yuan vacuum chamber, and CNNC’s involvement in reactor construction. Financing is booming; global fusion equity has topped $9.7 billion, with Chinese listed companies attracting rapid investment. Critical Fields raised 30 million yuan to mass‑produce high‑temperature superconducting materials, while the newly formed Fusion Financial Institutions Alliance gathers 130 investors to push fusion from labs to factories.