China is accelerating its brain-computer interface industry through coordinated state initiatives, highlighted by the nation's first commercial insurance policy for BCI surgery in Hangzhou.
Chinese start-up StairMed Technology is developing a minimally invasive brain-computer interface inserted via blood vessels, bypassing the need for conventional brain surgery. The firm has raised over 1.1 billion yuan in funding.
Science Corporation received European regulatory approval to sell PRIMA, a brain-computer interface that restores vision for age-related macular degeneration, with initial procedures expected in Germany in September. The device also got an expedited review designation from the US FDA.
A man paralyzed from the chest down in a 2020 swimming accident has regained the ability to feed himself, drink, and feel touch through a brain-computer interface (BCI) that bypasses his spinal cord injury, showing lasting nervous system adaptations.
China is prioritizing non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCI), designating the technology as a 'future industry.' Unlike Elon Musk's Neuralink, Chinese startups like Neuracle Medical Technology and BrainCo are developing devices that read brain signals without surgery, focusing initially on medical applications like prosthetics and rehabilitation.
Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are emerging as a major tech frontier, with companies like Elon Musk's Neuralink leading the charge. While invasive implants are advancing, non-invasive methods are gaining momentum, particularly in China, with potential applications ranging from medical rehabilitation to augmenting human capabilities.
A San Francisco startup, Coherence Neuro, has begun human trials for its brain implant designed to detect and treat cancer. The coin-sized device was temporarily placed in three patients at Royal Melbourne Hospital, aiming to sense tumor electrical signals and deliver stimulation to prevent growth.
A China-led research team has created a brain implant electrode array as soft as brain tissue, thinner than a hair, and highly durable. In animal trials, it recorded neural activity with long-term clarity for 18 months, overcoming the "hard-against-soft" issue that degrades signals from current rigid implants.
China has approved NEO, the world's first commercial brain-computer chip, for mass production. The coin-sized device, designed for patients with spinal cord injuries and paralysis, uses a less invasive approach than Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is still under US regulatory review.
Elon Musk's Neuralink is developing a surgical robot to implant its brain-computer interface, aiming to treat brain-related conditions. This robot, designed for precision and consistency, uses an ultrafine needle to insert electrode threads, automating a complex procedure. Neuralink's goal is a generalized neural interface to help thousands more people.
Former Harvard professor Charles Lieber, following a 2021 federal conviction for false statements and tax offenses, has relocated to Shenzhen to lead brain-computer interface research at the state-backed i-BRAIN institute.
