The growing demand for advanced surgical technologies, increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures, and the rising elderly population are expected to drive the demand for robotic-assisted surgery in China. Technological advancements, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into robotic surgical systems, are further enhancing the capabilities and potential applications of these technologies. Against this backdrop, the robotic surgical systems market in China is projected to grow at a 12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2026 and 2036, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s report, “Robotic Surgical Systems Market Size by Segments, Share, Regulatory, Reimbursement, Installed Base and Forecast to 2036,” reveals that China accounted for around 30% of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) robotic surgical systems market in 2025, highlighting the country’s significant contribution to the regional market.

Medtronic has recently agreed to invest approximately $700 million in a strategic collaboration with Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics, a surgical robotics company with manufacturing operations in China. The agreement includes rights for Medtronic to distribute Cornerstone’s Sentire surgical system in selected markets outside the US where the system has received market approval.

Medtronic will distribute Sentire alongside its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system. The collaboration highlights the growing international commercial reach of robotic surgical technologies developed by Chinese companies. Such developments could increase the global visibility of China’s surgical robotics sector and contribute to a more competitive market landscape as domestic manufacturers expand beyond the Chinese market.

Divya Soni, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “China’s robotic surgical systems market still has substantial headroom for expansion, particularly as the technology moves beyond a relatively concentrated base of leading hospitals. Greater availability of robotic systems, evolving pricing mechanisms and the expansion of robotic-assisted procedures across specialties could gradually improve accessibility.

“However, wider adoption will depend not only on the upfront cost of systems, but also on procedure volumes, recurring consumable costs, surgeon training and hospitals’ ability to achieve sufficient utilisation to justify the investment. As competition intensifies, manufacturers will therefore need to demonstrate clear clinical and economic value rather than rely solely on technological differentiation.”

Both companies have also made progress in expanding their robotic surgery technologies internationally. Medtronic’s Hugo platform is currently used in more than 35 countries across six continents, with the company expecting procedures performed using the system to exceed 50,000 globally by the end of its fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Cornerstone’s Sentire system has also expanded its regulatory footprint beyond China, with market approval in Singapore and CE Mark in May 2026 for minimally invasive general, gynaecologic, thoracic and urologic procedures.

Soni concludes: “China’s robotic surgical systems market is likely to evolve into a more competitive and diversified landscape as domestic and international players expand their presence. The extent to which robotic-assisted surgery achieves sustainable clinical adoption across a wider range of procedures and healthcare institutions will shape the market’s long-term trajectory and determine the extent to which robotic-assisted surgery becomes a more established component of surgical care in China.”