Global 'Best Minds' Gather in Hangzhou to Explore the Future of Brain-Computer Interface Industry

Xinhua News Agency, Hangzhou, December 11 (Reporters Cao Dan and Sun Linru) -- On December 11, the "2025 'Intelligent Connection·Future' Brain-Computer Interface International Conference and the 2nd China Brain-Computer Intelligence Conference" opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. With the theme of "Brain-Computer Integration, Intelligent Connection for the Future," the conference brought together 13 Chinese and foreign academicians, over 50 experts and scholars, industry leaders, and renowned investors to share insights and explore the cutting-edge trends in brain-computer intelligence.

Feng Guoping, an academician of the US National Academy of Sciences, stated in an interview that the current development of international brain-computer interfaces is showing different approaches: "The US focuses mainly on exploratory methods, while China has placed more emphasis on application-oriented approaches in the past five years." He pointed out that both invasive and non-invasive technologies have their applicable scenarios. Invasive technology holds significant value in specific clinical fields, but for broader cognitive regulation and disease treatment, reliance will ultimately need to be on safe, non-invasive technology pathways, which require fundamental innovations at the foundational level.

Pan Gang, director of the China National Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence at Zhejiang University, expressed a similar view: "The technical approach should be diversified and selected based on specific application scenarios." He emphasized that China's brain-computer interface is transitioning from "catching up" to "running alongside," with national top-level designs such as the "China Brain Project" being key driving forces in this process.

The conference announced a series of important measures to support industrial development. Among them, the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 43 international standard for brain-computer interfaces was officially launched, aiming to fill the gap in international standards in this field and establish unified norms for global technology research, development, and application. Meanwhile, the conference announced the start of cooperation with Springer Nature's Nature Research Intelligence to compile the "Global Brain-Computer Intelligence Technology and Industry Trends Report," which will provide scientific guidance for the development of the global industry.

"To expand the industry, it is essential to establish a standard system. Only by achieving detailed division of labor and collaboration can a strong industrial ecosystem be formed," said Pan Gang. Currently, universities and research institutions remain the main force in cutting-edge efforts, but he predicted that within the next five to ten years, as the industry grows, enterprises will play an increasingly important role.

On site, Zhejiang Province's major scientific and technological project for brain-computer interface and the innovation consortium were launched simultaneously, aiming to integrate advantageous resources through the "general department system" to tackle key core technologies.

In addition, eight high-quality brain-computer intelligence projects from the Brain-Inspired Intelligence Special Competition of the "Maker World · Hangzhou Future" Hangzhou Overseas High-Level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest officially signed agreements to settle in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, covering multiple cutting-edge application fields such as neuromodulation, bionic prosthetics, and cognitive early screening.

The value of technology lies in benefiting life. Zhou Jian, the R&D tester and product experience officer at BrainCo, shared his personal experience of using a smart bionic hand on-site: "By collecting electromyographic signals from the residual limb and controlling gestures with consciousness, it has genuinely assisted my daily life."

Regarding the future development of the brain-computer intelligence field, Pan Gang believes that the application of technology is a systems engineering effort, "which depends not only on the maturity of the technology but also closely relates to policies and public acceptance." Feng Guoping, on the other hand, raised considerations from the perspective of ethics and global collaboration, stating that "the widespread adoption of technology concerns fairness, and the international community should strengthen cooperation, managing brain-computer interface technology like DNA technology, to jointly guide its development for the greater good." (END)