China expects brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to enter practical public use within three to five years, according to a leading expert. The government has elevated BCI to a core strategic industry, with a national strategy targeting major breakthroughs by 2027 and world-class firms by 2030.
China is actively conducting human trials, matching the U.S. in number, which have already helped paralyzed patients regain partial mobility. The domestic BCI market is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan by 2027, with the government integrating some treatments into medical insurance to bridge research and clinical application.
While recognizing technical advances by U.S. firms like Neuralink, Chinese researchers are developing a range of invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive BCI systems. Experts cite China's large population, patient demand, and industrial chain as advantages for rapid progress in the field.
Main topics: China's BCI development timeline and national strategy, the status of human clinical trials and medical applications, market projections and policy support, and a comparison of technical approaches between China and the U.S.
China could see brain-computer interface (BCI) technology move into practical public use within three to five years as products mature, a leading BCI expert said, as Beijing races to catch up with US startups including Elon Musk's Neuralink.
Beijing elevated BCIs to a core future strategic industry in its new five-year plan released âthis week, â placing it â alongside sectors such as quantum, embodied AI, 6G and nuclear fusion.
"New policies will not change things overnight. I think after another three to five years, we will gradually see some (BCI) products moving towards actual practical service for the public," said Yao Dezhong, Director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, in an interview on Saturday on the sidelines of China's annual parliament meetings in Beijing.
Trials
A national BCI development strategy released last year aims for major technical âbreakthroughs by 2027 and for China to cultivate two or three world-class â firms by â2030.
China is the second country to launch invasive BCI human trials. More than â10 trials are âactive, matching the U.S., while scientists plan to enrol more than 50 patients â nationwide this year.
Recent high-profile trials have enabled paralysed patients and amputees to regain âpartial mobility and operate robotic hands or intelligent wheelchairs.
The government has already âintegrated some BCI treatments into national medical insurance in a few pilot provinces, and the domestic market is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan ($809 million) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting.
"China has many advantages in BCIs, such as its huge population, enormous patient demand, cost-effective industrial chain and abundant pool of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) talent," said Yao, who also leads a key neuroinformatics research centre under China's science âand technology ministry.
Policies such as insurance integration and national standards aim to close the "huge" gap between scientific research, industry and clinical applications, he said.
"The path from experimental to clinical âtrials is quite long, âand this remains a problem," â he told Reuters, adding that many Chinese hospitals have established BCI research labs to speed up the process.
While US startups like Neuralink focus on invasive chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are developing invasive, semi-invasive âand non-invasive BCIs with wider potential clinical use.
Semi-invasive BCIs, placed on the brain's surface, may lose some signal quality but reduce risks such as tissue damage and other post-surgery complications. Neuralink's surgical robot can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain in minutes.
"This is a technical advantage, which I think is remarkable," said Yao, of Neuralink.
"(But) China is actually making very fast progress in this area now. In fact, Musk's direction is basically achievable domestically."
Beijing elevated BCIs to a core future strategic industry in its new five-year plan released âthis week, â placing it â alongside sectors such as quantum, embodied AI, 6G and nuclear fusion.
"New policies will not change things overnight. I think after another three to five years, we will gradually see some (BCI) products moving towards actual practical service for the public," said Yao Dezhong, Director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, in an interview on Saturday on the sidelines of China's annual parliament meetings in Beijing.
Trials
A national BCI development strategy released last year aims for major technical âbreakthroughs by 2027 and for China to cultivate two or three world-class â firms by â2030.
China is the second country to launch invasive BCI human trials. More than â10 trials are âactive, matching the U.S., while scientists plan to enrol more than 50 patients â nationwide this year.
Recent high-profile trials have enabled paralysed patients and amputees to regain âpartial mobility and operate robotic hands or intelligent wheelchairs.
The government has already âintegrated some BCI treatments into national medical insurance in a few pilot provinces, and the domestic market is projected to reach 5.58 billion yuan ($809 million) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting.
"China has many advantages in BCIs, such as its huge population, enormous patient demand, cost-effective industrial chain and abundant pool of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) talent," said Yao, who also leads a key neuroinformatics research centre under China's science âand technology ministry.
Policies such as insurance integration and national standards aim to close the "huge" gap between scientific research, industry and clinical applications, he said.
"The path from experimental to clinical âtrials is quite long, âand this remains a problem," â he told Reuters, adding that many Chinese hospitals have established BCI research labs to speed up the process.
While US startups like Neuralink focus on invasive chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are developing invasive, semi-invasive âand non-invasive BCIs with wider potential clinical use.
Semi-invasive BCIs, placed on the brain's surface, may lose some signal quality but reduce risks such as tissue damage and other post-surgery complications. Neuralink's surgical robot can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain in minutes.
"This is a technical advantage, which I think is remarkable," said Yao, of Neuralink.
"(But) China is actually making very fast progress in this area now. In fact, Musk's direction is basically achievable domestically."
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