Zhongke Yixiang Secures Tens of Millions in Angel Funding Led by Liming Ventures and Biotop Bio for Breakthrough Brain-Computer Interface Technology

While mainstream invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies focus on increasing the number of electrode channels, Zhongke Imagery has adopted a differentiated approach. Its core technology embodies the “less is more” philosophy—decoding high-precision three-dimensional motion trajectories with only about 10 channels. The team has developed a motor planning decoding model based on intracranial place-coding mechanisms, and leverages the specialized capabilities of large AI models to achieve full-chain automation encompassing “intent decoding, AI-based planning, and embodied execution.”

In routine animal experiments conducted in April 2026, Zhongke Imagery decoded the movement intentions of macaques in just 0.2 seconds, with AI autonomously completing motion planning and grasp execution for the robotic arm and dexterous hand. Zhongke Imagery also proposed a hierarchical framework for brain-computer interfaces (BCI), accelerating progress toward the third stage, characterized by “the brain responsible for intention and decision-making, and the machine responsible for planning and execution.”

On the hardware front, Zhongke Imagery has developed an integrated device for laser-assisted minimally invasive craniotomy and flexible electrode implantation. This system replaces traditional open-skull surgery with micro-holes approximately 300 micrometers in diameter, enabling robots to achieve high-throughput, precise implantation of flexible electrodes. Han Xinyong, General Manager of Zhongke Imagery, explained that while traditional craniotomy requires removing a piece of skull the size of a coin, laser minimally invasive technology significantly reduces surgical complexity and patient recovery costs, making it more acceptable to patients within the context of China’s healthcare landscape.

Dr. Yu Shan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Zhongke Imagery, previously conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Germany and the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health before returning to China. He currently serves as a Professor at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Director of the Laboratory for Brain Atlas and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, with over 20 years of expertise in neuroscience and interdisciplinary brain-intelligence research. Mr. Han Xinyong, the legal representative and General Manager, oversees the company’s overall operations. The team comprises more than 20 professionals from diverse fields, including neuroscience, large AI models, micro-nano fabrication, micromanipulation robotics, optical engineering, clinical neurosurgery, and high-end medical devices.

As the lead investor in this round, Botuo Biology has continued to deepen its strategic layout in the brain-computer interface (BCI) sector. In March 2026, Botuo Biology established a special industrial fund dedicated to BCI and brain science, with a total scale of RMB 200 million. Through this investment, Botuo Biology has further perfected its full-chain layout spanning from invasive to non-invasive BCIs, providing industrial resource support to Zhongke Imagery in areas such as technological research and development and clinical advancement.

This round of financing will be used for the research and development of underlying brain-computer integration technologies, as well as the iteration of flexible brain-computer interface systems and surgical robots. It will prioritize advancing the first-in-human clinical trial of a BCIG Level 3 brain-computer interface, with implementation in clinical application scenarios such as motor rehabilitation and neural function reconstruction.

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