Experts Predict Imminent Breakthrough in China’s Brain-Computer Interfaces

Developers showcased brain-computer interface products at Beijing's ZGC Forum.

From March 25 to 29, the ZGC Forum took place in Beijing, where developers showcased a wide range of brain-computer interface (BCI) products—from specialized microchips to rehabilitation systems. These attracted significant attention from numerous visitors, reports China.org.

“The technology is rapidly advancing, and its application scope is expanding,” stated Zhao Jizong, a neurosurgery expert and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Among the solutions presented at the exhibition, two developments stood out—Beinao-1 and Beinao-2. The former is a semi-invasive system implanted in seven patients, all of whom successfully recovered and partially regained motor and speech functions.

Beinao-2 is an invasive implant with flexible electrodes, fully integrable into the brain. It is currently undergoing extensive animal testing. Its developer, NeuCyber Neurotech, stated that the product lags behind Neuralink’s technologies by about three years.

The advantage of Elon Musk’s firm’s solution is that its surgical robot can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain in mere minutes for the N1 chip.

Beinao-2 will move to clinical trials in 2026.

BCI creates a direct communication channel between the brain and an external device. The system records and interprets signals from the head, allowing direct “communication” with machines. This enables patients to control various devices.

China has adopted several policies to support BCI research and implementation. This sector is officially included in the list of priority industries for the future.

At the forum, experts from research institutes, hospitals, universities, and companies exchanged experiences and discussed the development of technology and its industrial application.

Gu Xiaosong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, noted that since 2025, BCI development in China has significantly accelerated: many technologies have moved to the stage of applied verification and are already showing impressive results.

In recent years, medical institutions in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, and other cities have opened specialized BCI clinics or research departments. Solutions developed in the country are used in disease diagnosis, motor function recovery, and neuromodulation.

Zhao emphasized that the state faces serious challenges in the field of neurological diseases. The number of patients exceeds 3.7 million. BCI opens a new avenue for rehabilitation.

Local authorities across China are creating infrastructure for industry development. Lin Han, deputy head of the Haidian district in Beijing, reported that 27 companies in the BCI field are already operating in the region. By 2030, it is planned to attract about 100 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and achieve widespread adoption of BCI products in medicine, rehabilitation, industry, and education.

Experts noted ongoing issues—technology reliability, safety, and ethical concerns.

China on the Verge of a Breakthrough

Yao Dezhong, director of the Sichuan Institute of Neuroscience, stated that practical application of BCI in China will begin within three to five years.

“China has many advantages in this field—a large population, high demand from patients, efficient industry, and a large pool of specialists,” the expert noted.

According to him, integrating BCI into the insurance system and developing national standards are aimed at reducing the “huge” gap between scientific research and clinical application.

While American startups like Neuralink focus on invasive chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are also developing surface-implantable and non-invasive solutions with broader clinical application potential.

This approach may lead to a loss of signal quality but at the same time reduces the risk of tissue damage and postoperative complications.

In March, China’s regulator approved the country’s first neuroimplant for commercial use.