China is rapidly advancing its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, aiming to become a global leader in this cutting-edge field. The country’s ambitious plans encompass standardization efforts, research and development initiatives, and strategic industrial growth, with a focus on both medical and non-medical applications of BCI technology.
Technological Advancements
Recent demonstrations showcase China’s significant progress in BCI technology. At the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum, a state-backed company unveiled the NeuCyber Array BMI System, where a monkey controlled a robotic arm to grasp a strawberry using only its thoughts. This achievement, developed by Chinese scientists, fills a gap in high-performance invasive BCI technology in the country. Additionally, researchers at Peking University and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science have created the Neuroscroll probe, capable of simultaneously recording neural activities from 1,024 tightly spaced channels in macaque monkeys. These advancements position China at the forefront of BCI innovation, with potential applications ranging from medical rehabilitation to aerospace industries.
Standardization and Ethics
A technical committee established by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is developing comprehensive standards for brain-computer interfaces, covering aspects such as brain information acquisition, preprocessing, encoding, decoding, and data visualization. This initiative aims to create a unified framework for BCI development and implementation across various fields, including healthcare, education, and consumer electronics. Ethical guidelines issued by the Communist Party in February 2024 address the use of BCIs for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals, emphasizing the need for strict regulation and clear benefits. These efforts reflect China’s commitment to responsible innovation in BCI technology while positioning itself as a leader in setting international standards.
Research and Development
Research institutions across China are driving innovation in BCI technology. The Tianjin Brain Science Center has made significant strides in aerospace applications and rehabilitation medicine, developing a high-speed BCI with record-setting information transmission rates. Meanwhile, the Chinese Institute for Brain Research in Beijing has co-developed the NeuCyber Array BMI System, an invasive BCI technology that represents a major breakthrough for China. These efforts are complemented by advancements in neural probes, such as the Neuroscroll probe developed by Peking University and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, which has achieved stable neural recordings in rat brains for up to two years.
Global Competition and Collaboration
In the race to develop advanced BCI technologies, China is actively competing with global leaders like Elon Musk’s Neuralink. While Neuralink has already begun human trials, China is focusing on developing its own high-performance invasive BCI technologies to close the gap. Despite the competition, Chinese research institutions maintain collaborations with international experts, although these partnerships account for a diminishing volume of research as evidenced by coauthorship patterns. This strategic approach allows China to benchmark foreign designs while advancing its indigenous capabilities, positioning the country to potentially lead in BCI innovation and standards-setting on the global stage.
Source: Perplexity
