Expert predicts China’s brain-computer tech to flourish in 3-5 years

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Beijing is gearing up to bring brain-computer interface (BCI) technology into everyday use within the next three to five years as the industry matures, according to a top BCI expert. China’s efforts come as they strive to compete with U.S. startups like Elon Musk’s Neuralink.

In its latest five-year plan unveiled this week, Beijing assigned BCIs a strategic importance, placing them alongside cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, embodied AI, 6G, and nuclear fusion.

“Policy changes alone won’t make a difference overnight. But in three to five years, we should start seeing some BCI products hitting the market and providing practical benefits for the public,” said Yao Dezhong, director of the Sichuan Institute of Brain Science, during an interview on Saturday, held alongside China’s annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing.

Trials and Progress

A national strategy released last year aims for significant technological breakthroughs in BCI by 2027, targeting the development of two to three globally competitive firms by 2030.

China is the second country globally to conduct invasive BCI trials involving humans. With over ten active trials—matching the U.S.—scientists plan to enroll more than 50 patients across the country this year.

Recently, notable trials have helped paralyzed individuals and amputees regain partial mobility, allowing them to control robotic hands or operate intelligent wheelchairs.

The government has started to include some BCI therapies in national health insurance programs in select pilot regions. Industry projections estimate China’s domestic BCI market could reach 5.58 billion yuan (around $809 million) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting.

Yao highlights China’s advantages in BCI development, citing its large population, high demand from patients, cost-efficient manufacturing chain, and a rich pool of STEM talent. He also emphasizes ongoing efforts to narrow the gap between research, industry, and clinical practice through policies like insurance coverage and establishing national standards.

“Moving from laboratory research to clinical application takes a long time, and that’s a persistent challenge,” Yao said. “Many Chinese hospitals have built BCI research labs to accelerate this process.”

Global Competitive Landscape

While American startups like Neuralink focus on invasive chips that penetrate brain tissue, Chinese researchers are developing a broader range of BCIs—including invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive types—with more extensive clinical use potential.

Semi-invasive BCIs, which rest on the brain’s surface, might compromise some signal clarity but reduce risks like tissue damage and post-surgery complications. Neuralink’s surgical robot can insert hundreds of electrodes into the brain in minutes, showcasing a technical edge that Yao regards as remarkable.

“That’s an impressive technological achievement,” he noted. “However, China is making rapid progress in this field, and Musk’s approach is well within domestic capabilities.”