China's BCI Firms Set to Surpass Musk's Neuralink in Clinical Implant Volume by Year-End

China may see brain-computer interface technology enter practical use within the next three to five years. "The direction Musk is taking can basically be achieved in China."

China's brain-computer interface field has just reached a milestone event, as the National Medical Products Administration approved the innovative product registration application of Shanghai BrainLink Medical Technology Co., Ltd. for its implantable brain-computer interface hand motor function compensation system. This marks the world's first launch of a brain-computer interface medical device, signifying that the world’s first invasive brain-computer interface medical device has entered the clinical application stage.

This year's government work report proposed to establish a growth and risk-sharing mechanism for future industries investment, and to foster the development of future energy, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, 6G, and other future industries. Driven by policy, the brain-computer interface industry is now entering a period of explosive growth.

Brain-computer interface companies in China are also accelerating their financing. On March 12, Gestalt Tech, a brain-computer interface company in China following the ultrasonic technology route, announced the completion of an angel round of financing worth 150 million yuan. On March 13, StairMed announced the completion of a strategic round of financing worth 500 million yuan.

The latest financing rounds of GestaltTech and StairMed have also seen the participation of several tech giants. The strategic financing round of StairMed was led by Alibaba, with existing shareholders such as Tencent following up.

According to the clinical trial plan disclosed by StairMed, by the end of 2026, the company's total number of clinical implants is expected to surpass that of Neuralink, moving towards the top position globally.

StairMed stated that the company plans to launch a large-scale, multi-center registration clinical trial by mid-2026 and complete the enrollment and implant surgeries for approximately 40 patients within the year. Currently, Neuralink's total number of clinical trials is about 21 cases.

During this year's two sessions, Yao Dezhong, a national deputy to the National People's Congress and president of the Sichuan Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Research Institute, predicted that as products gradually mature, China may see brain-computer interface technology enter practical use within the next three to five years. "Musk's direction can basically be achieved in China."

According to a brain-computer interface development strategy released by the state last year, significant technological breakthroughs will be achieved by 2027, and by 2030, China will cultivate two to three world-class brain-computer interface enterprises.

Currently, China has more than 10 clinical trials underway in the field of invasive brain-computer interfaces, comparable to the United States. These clinical trials include restoring partial mobility to paralyzed or amputated patients, enabling them to operate robotic hands or smart wheelchairs.

According to data from CCID Consulting, the government has incorporated certain brain-computer interface therapeutic technologies into the national medical insurance systems of some pilot provinces. By 2027, the market size of brain-computer interfaces in China is expected to reach 5.58 billion yuan.

"China has many advantages in brain-computer interface, such as a large population, huge patient demand, a cost-effective industrial chain, and a rich pool of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talents. Yao Dezhong stated that policies like medical insurance and national standards will help bridge the significant gap between scientific research, industry, and clinical applications."

He believes that the journey from experimentation to clinical trials is quite long, and many hospitals in China have already established brain-computer interface research laboratories to accelerate the process of translating brain-computer interfaces into clinical applications.