China's brain-computer interface (BCI) sector is accelerating, driven by strong state policy support and private-sector advances. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), National Health Commission, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) have jointly released an "Implementation Plan for Promoting Innovation and Development of the brain-computer interface (BCI) Industry."
The roadmap targets breakthroughs in core BCI technologies by 2027, alongside the creation of a comprehensive ecosystem spanning advanced technologies, industry, and standards. By that year, China aims for its BCI electrodes and integrated systems to reach global performance levels, with two to three dedicated industrial clusters developing new use cases and business models. By 2030, authorities plan to foster two to three leading companies and specialized players in the field.
BCI implantable and non-invasive systems advancing in parallel
The plan calls for developing physiological signal acquisition systems that merge brain signals with multimodal inputs, including electromyography (EMG), electrooculography (EOG), electrocardiography (ECG), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), to boost precision in interaction control and sensory evaluation.
It also envisions high-precision surgical robots for BCI implantation, capable of submicron control and dynamic adjustments, paired with advanced real-time imaging and 3D reconstruction to support clinical deployment.
In July, ahead of the roadmap's release, regulators introduced China's first national standard for non-invasive BCI medical devices — General Technical Requirements for Non-Invasive Equipment Using BCI Technology. It addresses product design, safety, signal stability, electrode placement, data transmission, and system verification, closing a long-standing regulatory gap and formally placing such devices under supervision.
Companies accelerate drive for self-developed chips
Leveraging advances in AI and semiconductors, Chinese firms are stepping up efforts to develop core BCI chips, seeking to narrow the gap with the US and other leaders and, in some cases, outpace them in clinical trials.
NeuroXess (Hengqin, Zhuhai) Technology Co., Ltd., a spinoff from Shanghai-based NeuroXess, has created a multi-channel EEG acquisition chip that processes signals from tens of thousands of electrodes, integrating amplification, filtering, and conversion functions.
Wuhan Zhonghua Brain Computer Integration Technology Development Co., Ltd. says it has developed a 65,000-channel bidirectional interface chip—well above the mainstream 3,000-channel standard—which could greatly improve brain-signal decoding and human-machine interaction if stability is maintained.
The Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and Beijing Xinzhida Neurotechnology Co. (NeuCyber) have co-developed the "Beinao No.1" semi-invasive brain chip, implanted in three patients in early 2025. The target is 50 patients by 2026, which would rank it as the world's second-largest clinical rollout after US-based Synchron.
Neuracle, working with Tsinghua University, has completed several clinical trials of its "NEO" minimally invasive implant system. Roughly coin-sized, the chip can precisely locate and reliably capture EEG signals, with intended uses in epilepsy, stroke, and neurological rehabilitation.
In the non-invasive space, BrainCo has released FDA-approved commercial products and established a foothold in rehabilitation aids and human-computer interaction markets.
BCI is part of China's "Future Industry Innovation Development" program, with MIIT and other agencies providing policy backing and subsidies. From setting national standards to scaling high-channel chip production and clinical trials, China is building a complete BCI value chain spanning chips, algorithms, surgical tools, and application platforms.
Article edited by Jack Wu
