Chokepoint Technology

A key technology or component that depends on imports and is hard to replace if supply is ever cut off.

In Chinese usage, this phrase describes a link in the supply chain that depends heavily on foreign sources, where a restriction from the supplying country could effectively strangle the industry — the image is literally a hand “choking someone's neck.” In robotics, commonly cited chokepoints include high-end AI chips and GPUs, high-precision reducers, high-end servo motors and encoders, high-precision force sensors, and industrial software such as simulators and CAD tools. These are areas with high technical barriers and long validation cycles, so it takes time for Chinese makers to catch up. Identifying chokepoint technologies is the starting point for government support, investment strategy, and domestic substitution.

ExampleRobot compute platforms commonly use NVIDIA's Jetson-series chips; if export restrictions applied, makers would need to find a domestic chip alternative — a classic chokepoint discussion.

Related

Domestic Substitution · Core Components · Strain Wave Gear (Harmonic Drive) · NVIDIA Jetson · Upstream / Midstream / Downstream of the Industry Chain

Sources

Made in China 2025 - Wikipedia