IVD Listed Company Boltop Biotech Expands into Brain-Computer Interface with Full-Chain Integration of Reagents and Hardware

Recently,Hangzhou Botuo Biotechnology and Zhongke Imagery (Nanjing) Technology Co., Ltd. Officially Sign Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement, this listed company, which excels in POCT reagents,Extend in vitro diagnostic (IVD) technological capabilities to the upstream supply chain of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), formally exploring the integrated innovation pathway between IVD and BCI.

Unlike the common conceptual cross-industry collaborations in the industry, Botuo Bio’s latest partnership directly addresses the long-standing pain point of clinical safety monitoring in brain-computer interfaces (BCI), building upon the capital and industrial matrix it has established over the past year., a cross-sector path of “capital first, technology implementation, and channel synergy” has become clear,It also opens up new horizons for scenario innovation in the IVD industry amid stock competition.

This strategic cooperation marks a deepening of industrial collaboration following the capital linkage between the two parties. Previously, Botuo Biology had led the latest round of financing for Zhongke Imagery through its specialized brain-computer interface industry fund. This signing extends the partnership from financial investment to full-industry-chain synergy, encompassing product research and development, regulatory registration and filing, and market promotion.

Pursuant to the agreement, the core collaboration between the two parties centers on three key areas:Deep Synergy of Industrial Capital, Integrated Innovation in IVD and BCI, Breakthroughs in Commercialization Pain Points.The most industry-defining breakthrough is the joint development of postoperative immune response detection reagents and blood biomarker monitoring protocols, aimed at exploring non-invasive assessment techniques for scenarios such as early screening of postoperative infections, biocompatibility evaluation, and monitoring of implant performance degradation trends in implanted brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), thereby filling a long-standing gap in post-implantation safety monitoring within the industry.

For the IVD industry, this represents the deployment of diagnostic technologies in entirely new clinical scenarios. Traditional IVD reagents are primarily used for routine disease screening and treatment monitoring, whereas long-term safety monitoring following brain-computer interface (BCI) implantation is a newly emerging, essential demand driven by industry development. This scenario is highly scarce and directly aligns with the core technical capabilities of in vitro diagnostic companies.

In addition, Botuo Biotech will leverage its expertise in regulatory registration within the medical device sector and its global sales network,Provide regulatory submission guidance for NMPA, FDA, and CE certifications to Zhongke Imagery, accelerating the commercialization and global expansion of brain-computer interface products.Both parties will also jointly establish a “R&D–clinical–feedback” data closed loop, prioritize procurement cooperation in downstream application scenarios such as mental health, and continuously deepen technical collaboration in the areas of implant infection screening and performance degradation early warning.

The other party to this collaboration, Zhongke Imagery, is a brain-computer interface technology enterprise incubated by the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with its coreCore technologies focus on the deep integration of "brain-computer AI embodiment," possessing full-chain technical capabilities ranging from brain intent decoding and AI autonomous planning to robotic arm embodied execution.

Public experimental data show that during routine animal experiments in April 2025, Zhongke Imagery decoded macaque motor intentions in just 0.2 seconds, and autonomously completed motion planning for a robotic arm and dexterous hand, as well as grasp execution, via its AI system. Both decoding speed and execution precision rank among the top tier in China.

Notably, Zhongke Imagery has also proposed the Brain-Computer Interface Grading (BCIG) system and is currently advancing human clinical trials for BCIG Level 3 brain-computer interfaces, positioning its technology deployment at the forefront of the industry.

For Botuo Biotech, partnering with Zhongke Imagery, which possesses foundational technological capabilities and clinical development experience,It also provides a solid clinical foundation for the practical application of its IVD technology.

In fact, this strategic cooperation with Zhongke Imagery is not Botuo Biology’s first foray into the brain-computer interface (BCI) sector. Since 2025, the company has been gradually building an industrial ecosystem in brain science and BCI through equity investments.Dual-line coverage with invasive and non-invasive approaches.

In May 2025, Botuo Biotech strategically acquired a minority stake in Hangzhou Qingshi Yongjun Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.Post-investment shareholding ratio: 5%. The company’s core team originates from the State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence at Zhejiang University. It is the first research team in China to achieve precise, targeted treatment of refractory severe depression through implantable deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology, focusing on therapeutic applications of invasive brain-computer interfaces.

In January 2026, Botuo Biologics made another strategic move by acquiring a minority stake in Hangzhou Haoshi Tianhui Technology Co., Ltd., holding a 16% equity interest post-investment.The company focuses on the non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) sector, specializing in medical-grade non-invasive BCI and mental health assessment devices. It can complete precise quantitative assessments of emotional issues such as depression and anxiety in as little as 90 seconds, positioning itself strategically in the blue-ocean market of mental health screening.

In March 2026, Botuo Biology further increased its investment by establishing a special industrial fund for brain-computer interfaces and brain science, with a total scale of 200 million yuan.The Company, as a limited partner, has subscribed to RMB 190 million, representing a 95% stake. The fund primarily invests in pre-IPO companies within the domestic and international brain-computer interface (BCI) and brain science industry chains, thereby continuously securing high-quality projects for strategic industrial deployment.

From invasive treatments to non-invasive assessments, from direct project investments to industrial fund layouts, and now to the deep integration of IVD technology with Zhongke Imagery, BoTuoshengwu has established a comprehensive brain-computer interface industry layout integrating “capital + technology + products + channels.”, and is also one of the listed companies with the most systematic layout in the brain-computer interface track within the IVD industry.

In recent years, as centralized procurement has become routine in traditional sectors such as biochemistry and immunology, the overall growth rate of the IVD industry has slowed down.Seeking a Second Growth Curve Has Become a Common Challenge for Many EnterprisesFrom chemiluminescence to molecular diagnostics, and from POCT to companion diagnostics, industry-wide involution has long since spread from existing markets to hot emerging growth sectors.

As an emerging sector combining technological attributes with medical value, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are benefiting from favorable policies and industrial growth. However, behind the industry’s rapid development, safety issues such as postoperative infection monitoring and long-term performance evaluation of implantable devices remain core bottlenecks restricting commercialization—challenges that align closely with the technical capabilities of in vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies.

The strategic layout logic of Botuo Biotech precisely breaks away from the traditional framework of “merely producing reagents.”, leveraging its in-house R&D capabilities for diagnostic reagents, experience in medical device registration, and global channel network as supporting infrastructure for the brain-computer interface industry,Targeting the most critical safety monitoring segment within the industry. This model not only avoids direct competition with brain-computer interface hardware manufacturers but also identifies novel application scenarios for IVD technology, thereby establishing clear differentiated advantages.

For the entire IVD industry, this cross-sector approach holds significant reference value: against the backdrop of peak growth in traditional segments, leveraging core competencies to expand into high-value medical devices and emerging healthcare scenarios, and serving as a specialized support provider in niche fields, may offer greater long-term value than blindly flocking to popular sectors.

Currently, the brain-computer interface (BCI) industry in China remains in its early commercialization stage. There is still a long road ahead from technological breakthroughs to clinical implementation and ultimately to large-scale adoption. However, it is certain that as more in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and high-value consumables companies join the sector, the supporting capabilities of the industrial chain will continue to improve, further accelerating the industry’s commercialization process. Whether Biotime Biotechnology can successfully establish a second growth curve with this strategic move remains to be seen over time. Nevertheless, its cross-industry approach of “leveraging IVD capabilities to address industry shortcomings” undoubtedly offers new possibilities for in vitro diagnostic companies operating in an increasingly saturated competitive landscape.