China accelerates development of brain chips, targets commercialisation
China is making rapid progress in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Experts predict widespread public use within three to five years. This substantial acceleration follows directly from Beijing’s ambitious goals. Indeed, the new five-year plan marks BCI applications as a key strategic industry. This sector is now on par with quantum computing, embodied AI, 6G and nuclear fusion.
Yao Dezhong, director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, believes new policies will not bring immediate change. They do, he says, pave the way for BCI products to be applied in practice within a few years.
The Chinese commitment to this development is very clear from the national strategy. That targets major technological breakthroughs by 2027. By 2030, two to three world-class BCI companies should emerge. The country has already started invasive BCI trials on humans, of which more than 10 are currently running, putting it on par with the United States in terms of active trials.
Recent high-profile trials have demonstrated the potential of BCIs to restore partial mobility in paralysed patients and amputees. This allows them to operate robotic arms and intelligent wheelchairs.
The Chinese government is actively promoting the integration of BCI treatments into the national health insurance system, with pilot programmes already underway in several provinces. The domestic BCI market is expected to reach a significant size of 5.58 billion yuan (about €700 million) by 2027.
Yao Dezhong highlighted China’s advantages in BCIs, including its huge population, high patient demand, cost-effective industrial chain and abundant STEM talent. He stressed the importance of policies aimed at bridging the gap between scientific research, industry and clinical applications.
While US start-ups such as Neuralink are focusing on invasive chips implanted directly into brain tissue, Chinese researchers are exploring a wider range of BCI approaches, including invasive, semi-invasive and non-invasive techniques.
Semi-invasive BCIs, which are placed on the surface of the brain, may compromise a little on signal quality, but offer less risk of tissue damage and postoperative complications compared to fully invasive methods.
Yao Dezhong simultaneously acknowledges competitor Neuralink’s impressive technological advances. In particular, he praises their surgical robot. That can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain within minutes. However, he expresses confidence in China’s rapid progress in this field and argues that Musk’s vision is achievable domestically.
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