# The Industrial Robotics Race: Why the US Is Falling Behind China w/ Rishabh Agarwal

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-09-23
- Episode: 276
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-4c0ef698-720a-4446-ac6a-2dbf09ab11e0

## Summary

Rishabh Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Peer Robotics, explains why US small and medium-sized manufacturers lag behind China in industrial robot deployment, citing the mismatch between existing 'brownfield' facilities and 'greenfield' automation solutions. He highlights that US SMEs struggle with labor shortages and outdated infrastructure, whereas China benefits from newer facilities and massive state support. Agarwal advises manufacturers to leverage Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) grants and flexible 'Robot-as-a-Service' pricing models to lower adoption barriers.

## Chapters

- [0:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=34) Introduction: Rishabh Agarwal and Peer Robotics
- [6:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=373) The US-China Automation Gap and Brownfield Challenges
- [10:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=640) Identifying Low-Hanging Fruit for Automation
- [15:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=916) MEP Grants and Robot-as-a-Service Pricing Models
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=1154) Labor Shortages and Urgency for SMEs
- [22:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-09-23-the-industrial-robotics-race-why-the-us-is-falling-behind-china-w-rishabh-agarwa#t=1364) Actionable Steps for Manufacturers

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Peer Robotics (company)
- Siemens (company)
- Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies (company)
- Industryport (company)
- TR Robotics (company)
- Amazon (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [189: Lowering Barriers to Entry in Adopting Robotics with Søren Peters, Founder and CEO of HowToRobot.com](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-11-189-lowering-barriers-to-entry-in-adopting-robotics-with-s-ren-peters-founder-an) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Navigating the US Robotics Market: Strategies for Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-06-navigating-the-us-robotics-market-strategies-for-success) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep. 15: Can Mexico Become Robotics’ Next Powerhouse? | The Robo Success Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-25-ep-15-can-mexico-become-robotics-next-powerhouse-the-robo-success-podcast) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [Driving the transformation of the robotics industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-08-16-driving-the-transformation-of-the-robotics-industry) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The Power of STEM: Shaping the Next Generation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-11-07-the-power-of-stem-shaping-the-next-generation) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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