On February 23, the Shanghai Baoshan-SDU General Intelligent Robotics Research Institute was officially inaugurated, a collaborative venture between Baoshan District, Shanghai University, and Unitree Technology. This partnership signifies a governmental-university-enterprise alliance dedicated to forging an innovative platform and leading edge for the intelligent robotics industry.

Public records reveal that Unitree Technology, founded in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, in 2016, is a globally renowned civilian robotics firm specializing in the independent R&D, production, and sales of high-performance consumer-grade and industry-grade legged/humanoid robots and dexterous robotic arms. Recognized as a national high-tech enterprise, Unitree has earned accolades including being designated as a specialized, innovative "little giant" enterprise. CEO Wang Xingxing represented the company at the 2025 Private Enterprise Symposium.

01

Returning to Roots, Pioneering New Horizons in Industry-Education Integration

The Shanghai Baoshan-SDU General Intelligent Robotics Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as the "New Research Institute"), established jointly by Baoshan District, Shanghai University, and Unitree Technology, focuses on embodied intelligence and humanoid robots. Its aim is to establish a comprehensive innovation system encompassing "basic research - technological breakthroughs - scenario validation - industrial incubation."

Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree Technology and a co-founder, stated that the collaboration primarily focuses on two areas. Firstly, in terms of talent development, through joint lab projects, it offers Shanghai University students a practical platform, attracts top talent to the R&D team, and fosters a bidirectional ecosystem for innovation and industry. Secondly, for industrial advancement, leveraging Baoshan District's strong foundation in intelligent manufacturing, it accelerates the commercial application of humanoid and quadruped robot technologies, supporting the robotics industry in Shanghai.

This initiative marks a new chapter in industry-education integration for Wang Xingxing, a 2013 master's graduate in mechanical engineering from Shanghai University, who returns to his alma mater after eight years of entrepreneurial success. From a basic prototype in the lab to a mass production line with a 60% market share, Unitree Technology has expanded into industrial scenarios and household consumption, pioneering the "motor drive" technology route and the core concept of "low cost, high performance," carving out a distinctive path in the robotics industry. These new-generation private enterprises are constructing an autonomously controllable "Made in China" ecosystem through core component localization, deep upstream-downstream integration, and capital and policy empowerment, enhancing global competitiveness and influence.

Currently, Unitree's business spans over half of the global countries and regions, with products widely used in power inspection, fire rescue, park security, and other fields. Industry data indicates that Unitree Technology's robotic dog products account for over 60% of global shipments, with an impressive clientele including international tech giants such as Amazon, Google, NVIDIA, and Meta.

Among Unitree Technology's products, Go1 is the world's first consumer-grade accompanying biomimetic quadruped robot. Unitree Technology holds a leading position in the global quadruped robot market, with a 69.75% share of sales and a 40.65% market size share in 2023, firmly ranking first globally. Additionally, its humanoid robot G1, priced at RMB 99,000, has surpassed Boston Dynamics and Tesla to become the sales champion.

In 2023, Unitree Technology launched H1, China's first full-size general-purpose humanoid robot capable of running, performing actions like running, climbing stairs, and backflips, with a maximum speed of 3.3 meters per second.

Within less than a year, Unitree Technology further disrupted the industry by launching the new G1 humanoid robot at RMB 99,000, demonstrating the feasibility of mass production and commercialization. Huang Jiawei, Unitree Technology's Marketing Director, previously stated in an interview that G1 began mass deliveries in December 2024. Currently, Unitree Technology is edging closer to commercialization, with G1 entering pilot factories such as Geely and NIO, initiating its "internship" with basic assembly work.

Qichacha data shows that Unitree Technology has completed 9 rounds of financing, with a cumulative disclosed amount exceeding RMB 1.7 billion. The most recent round was Series C financing in September 2024, with investors including Shenzhen Capital Group and Beijing Robotics Industry Investment Fund. Additionally, renowned domestic investment institutions such as Sequoia China, Shunwei Capital, Shenzhen Capital Group, Source Code Capital, China Internet Investment Fund, and Meituan are also listed as investors.

02

Continuous Momentum in Shanghai

Establishing a New Company in Baoshan

Public information indicates that this new research institute is not the first collaboration between the three parties. In July 2024, Baoshan District, Shanghai University, and Unitree Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement, with Wang Xingxing being honored with the titles of "Chief Think Tank Expert in Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing in Baoshan District" and "Part-time Supervisor for Graduate Students at Shanghai University" by the district and university, respectively.

Furthermore, Unitree Technology has consistently made new strides in Shanghai. Two to three months ago, the School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation at Shanghai University jointly applied with Unitree Technology for a national key R&D program special project on intelligent robots, dedicated to research on generative AI-driven collaborative exploration of robot swarms in three-dimensional environments. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI, embodied intelligence, and multimodal models, they aim to enhance the generalization of robot swarm operations and achieve rapid exploration of multiple targets in complex outdoor environments, expected to serve national strategies in areas like natural disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and geological exploration.

Additionally, at the end of December last year, Unitree Technology established a new company in Shanghai. Public records show that Hangzhou Unitree Technology Co., Ltd. invested RMB 100,000 to establish Shanghai Gaoyi Technology Co., Ltd., holding a 100% stake. The new company is located in Jiyun Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai, and belongs to the technology promotion and application services industry.

Starting from mid-February this year, this newly established company has officially commenced external recruitment. Unitree Technology has posted a job opening for an "Operations Supervisor/Branch Manager" in Shanghai, offering a monthly salary of RMB 25-50K, planning for the establishment of a branch in Shanghai. According to the job description, this position is responsible for branch construction, team formation, personnel management, formulating development plans, goals, institutional systems, and business processes, along with brand promotion, industry policy collection, and project funding applications.

Moreover, at the recently concluded 2025 Global Developer Pioneer Conference, Unitree Technology showcased two robots: the Unitree G1 humanoid robot priced at RMB 99,000, known for its lightweight and high load capacity, and the Unitree Go2, targeting the consumer market with features like dog walking and towing. On-site, Unitree Technology demonstrated the Unitree Go2 quadruped robot dog and the Unitree G1 humanoid robot, performing programs like "humanoid robot walking a dog," captivating the entire audience.

03

Why Baoshan, Shanghai?

It is evident that Unitree Technology's focus in Shanghai is primarily centered in Baoshan District. This is undoubtedly closely linked to the fact that the company's CEO, Wang Xingxing, is an alumnus of Shanghai University, which has a campus in Baoshan. However, from a deeper perspective, it is also closely tied to Baoshan District's emphasis on the robotics sector.

With the establishment of the new research institute, Baoshan District has pledged full support and guarantees for Shanghai University and Unitree Technology to achieve greater development in the district, jointly constructing a commanding height for the general intelligent robotics industry. Currently, the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industry is one of the "six major industries" prioritized for development in Baoshan District, and the tripartite signing of the cooperation agreement has injected robust momentum into the industry.

Data shows that in 2023, the total output value of enterprises above a designated size in the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industry in Baoshan District was RMB 68.246 billion, with the output value of industrial robots above a designated size being nearly RMB 8 billion, accounting for one-third of the city's total output value of industrial robots. The talent pool and industrial scale continue to expand, significantly bolstering the industry.

Additionally, the Shanghai Robotics Industrial Park is situated in Gucun Town, Baoshan District, with a planned total land area of 3.09 square kilometers, making it one of Shanghai's 26 specialized industrial parks. "Global industrial robot output value looks to China, China to Shanghai, and Shanghai to Baoshan Gucun. We account for one-ninth of the national output value and one-third of Shanghai's. The largest enterprise among the global robotics 'Big Four,' Japan's FANUC, is located in our park. We are the closest to the city center among the city's best '104 Industrial Parks,'" a responsible person from the Shanghai Robotics Industrial Park previously introduced.

Leveraging its locational advantages, the Robotics Industrial Park targets world-class leading robotics enterprises, introducing leading companies in the robotics field such as Japan's FANUC, Austria's Fronius, and Germany's Secheron Intelligence. These head enterprises play a pivotal role in attracting a batch of headquarters-based enterprises focused on intelligent equipment manufacturing, such as Xinyanlong, Quicktron, and Vision-Bit Robotics, as well as a batch of high-end intelligent manufacturing enterprises like Feimian Instruments and Xiaowei Technology.

Currently, the park has gathered 243 upstream and downstream innovative enterprises in the robotics industry, gradually forming a comprehensive industrial layout ranging from upstream reducers to midstream body technologies and downstream system integration, successfully creating a unique model of "leading enterprises guiding + small and medium-sized enterprises coexisting." In 2023, the Shanghai Robotics Industrial Park in Baoshan District was selected as a Shanghai Talent Gathering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cultivation Base and recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as one of the first batches of national-level characteristic industrial clusters for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Therefore, Unitree Technology's concentration in Baoshan District, Shanghai, is partly due to its CEO's personal connection to the university and partly directly tied to Baoshan District's current robust promotion of the robotics industry. In the future, we may witness Unitree Technology further expand its presence in Baoshan, while Baoshan District will undoubtedly introduce more supportive policies related to the robotics industry, making it a space worth watching closely.