China has approved a growing number of brain-computer interface (BCI) devices as the country accelerates efforts to become a global leader in brain-chip technology and compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
Chinese health regulators have this year cleared several brain-technology products developed by domestic companies, marking a significant step toward the commercial use of technology that can connect the human brain to computers and other devices.
Brain-computer interfaces are designed to capture electrical signals from the brain and translate them into commands that can control digital devices or physical equipment. The technology is being developed particularly for people living with paralysis and other neurological conditions.
In March, China approved the NEO brain implant developed by Shanghai-based Neuracle Medical Technology for patients with severe paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. The coin-sized device is placed on the outer surface of the brain and records neural activity associated with attempted hand movements.
The signals are then transmitted to a computer, decoded and used to operate a robotic glove, potentially helping patients regain some hand function. The approval was described as the world’s first regulatory clearance for an invasive BCI intended for commercial use.
China subsequently carried out what was reported as the world’s first commercial surgery using an approved invasive BCI device in July. Surgeons implanted the NEO system in a patient with impaired hand movement following a spinal cord injury, with the procedure reportedly producing stable brain signals.
More recently, Chinese regulators approved a separate device developed by Tianjin-based Tiankai Suishi Intelligent Technology. The system uses a cap fitted with electrodes to monitor electrical activity from the brain and help doctors assess cognitive functions. It received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration on August 19.
The developments form part of a broader push by Beijing to establish brain-computer interfaces as a strategic emerging industry. China has set targets for major advances in BCI technology, industrial development and standards, with the country aiming to rank among the global leaders in the sector by 2030.
The progress puts Chinese companies increasingly in competition with Neuralink, the brain-technology company founded by Musk, which has been conducting human trials of its own implant.
Neuralink’s technology has allowed trial participants with paralysis to control computers using their thoughts, while the company is also developing applications that could enable users to control assistive robotic devices.
However, the race is still in its early stages. Chinese startup NeuCyber Neurotech said earlier this year that its most advanced technology remained about three years behind Neuralink’s capabilities.
With growing government backing, private investment and regulatory support, China is nevertheless rapidly moving BCI technology from laboratories and clinical trials toward wider real-world applications.
