By Dr Rajesh Kumar, Principal Scientist – Robotics & AI, Addverb
A new industrial race is underway, and this time, the winners won’t just build robots; they’ll build the ecosystems behind them. Powered by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, precision engineering, sensors, batteries and computing, humanoid robots are moving from research prototypes to commercial reality. Morgan Stanley estimates the humanoid robotics economy could approach US$5 trillion by 2050, while Goldman Sachs forecasts a US$38 billion market by 2035. For India, this presents a defining opportunity: not merely to assemble humanoid robots but to become a global hub for designing, manufacturing and powering the technologies that bring them to life.
Humanoid robots are emerging as the physical interface for AI. Generative AI transformed how machines understand and generate language. Physical AI is now enabling machines to perceive, interact with and navigate the real world. This transition is gathering pace because robotics is benefiting from decades of progress across adjacent industries, including electric vehicles, industrial automation, batteries, sensors and high-performance computing.
Building a humanoid robot requires far more than expertise in robotics. Every machine integrates a sophisticated network of actuators, harmonic drives, servo motors, embedded electronics, batteries, machine vision, AI models and advanced software. Success depends on an ecosystem where component manufacturers, software developers, research institutions and production facilities evolve together. No single company can build this ecosystem in isolation.
China demonstrates what this level of industrial depth can achieve. According to the International Federation of Robotics, 542,000 industrial robots were installed globally in 2024. Asia accounted for 74% of these deployments, with China alone representing 54% of global installations. China’s leadership was built steadily through investments in factories, supplier networks and manufacturing capabilities that reduced the cost of precision motion systems, electronics and automation. Industrial capability compounds over time. Every layer of expertise makes the next generation of innovation easier to develop.
India enters this race with a different set of strengths. Over the past decade, the country has significantly expanded electronics manufacturing, strengthened its automotive supply chain and built world-class digital infrastructure. The IndiaAI Mission, approved in March 2024, is laying the foundation for a sovereign AI ecosystem by investing in compute infrastructure, datasets, foundation models and AI talent. Its compute portal is designed to provide affordable access to cloud computing for academia, startups, MSMEs and enterprises. These investments will become increasingly valuable as humanoid robots rely more heavily on embodied AI, simulation and on-device intelligence alongside mechanical engineering.
The next phase of global competition will depend on where value is created across the supply chain. Every humanoid robot integrates hundreds of specialised components, many of which generate higher margins than final assembly. Motion systems, sensors, embedded computing, robotics software, machine vision and testing infrastructure are rapidly becoming industries in their own right. The smartphone industry followed a similar path. Several global leaders created enormous value by specialising in semiconductors, camera sensors and operating systems rather than manufacturing handsets. Humanoid robotics is likely to reward the same kind of specialisation.
India therefore has an opportunity to strengthen the layers of the value chain that create lasting competitive advantage. Manufacturing complete robots will remain important, but developing indigenous capabilities in actuators, precision reducers, robotics electronics, AI software and control systems could deliver even greater long-term value. At the same time, dedicated robotics manufacturing clusters that bring together suppliers, startups, testing facilities, manufacturers and research institutions can shorten development cycles, accelerate commercialisation and build resilient domestic supply chains.
Deployment is equally critical. Unlike conventional industrial equipment, humanoid robots improve through continuous operation. Every task performed inside a warehouse, factory or distribution centre generates data that refines motion planning, manipulation and decision-making. Countries that deploy robots at scale will build better robots faster because they continuously generate the real-world data required to train physical AI. Over time, the ability to learn from large-scale deployment could become as important as the ability to manufacture the machines themselves.
India has already demonstrated how coordinated national investment can create platforms that unlock large-scale innovation. UPI transformed digital payments because it created the infrastructure on which thousands of businesses could innovate and build new services. Humanoid robotics demands a similar ecosystem approach. Success should be measured not only by the number of robots assembled in India but also by the country’s contribution across the global value chain through embodied AI, precision components, systems integration, testing, deployment and advanced manufacturing.
If India can combine its manufacturing momentum, engineering talent and AI capabilities with sustained investments in critical technologies, supplier ecosystems and industrial infrastructure, it has the opportunity to become far more than a consumer of humanoid robots. It can emerge as one of the world’s most important centres for designing, building and powering the next generation of intelligent machines.