China Expands Brain-Computer Interface Industry to Rival United States

The Government of China is aggressively expanding its brain-computer interface (BCI) industry to compete with the United States and companies such as Neuralink. The central government has designated neuro-technology as a priority industry in its latest five-year plan, providing a strategic framework for growth.

To support medical and industrial adoption, the Ministry of Science and Technology established ethical guidelines in 2024, followed by the introduction of national billing codes in 2025. Academic integration is also accelerating, with Tianjin University launching the world's first undergraduate major in BCI technology this autumn.

The industrial ecosystem now includes state-backed firms like NeuCyber and NeuroXess, the latter of which completed clinical trials for wireless implants. In the commercial sector, the Shanghai-based startup Neuracle recently launched the world's first commercially available semi-invasive BCI implant designed for hand-motor functions. Simultaneously, companies like BrainCo are targeting consumer markets with non-invasive wearables for gaming and sleep aids, signaling a shift from basic scientific research toward daily utility.