China Unveils 2030 Brain-Computer Interface Roadmap

New policy sets 2027 technical targets and aims to establish global leaders in the field

China has announced a nationwide initiative to accelerate the development of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology, placing it alongside artificial intelligence and quantum computing as a strategic priority. The plan, reported by the Global Times on July 30, originates from a coalition of seven ministries and sets two major milestones: achieving breakthroughs in core BCI components by 2027 and creating two to three internationally competitive companies by 2030.

Following the announcement, several BCI-linked stocks surged. Exchange data shows Nanjing Panda Electronics climbed nearly 19%, MicroPort NeuroScientific rose about 8%, Shanghai Xiangyu Medical gained roughly 11%, and Jiangsu Apon Medical advanced more than 8%. The rally signals investor confidence that state-backed funding, coordinated industrial policy, and early technical standards could help Chinese firms challenge established U.S. players such as Neuralink, Synchron, and Precision Neuroscience.

Key elements of the 2030 BCI roadmap include:

• Breakthroughs by 2027 in electrodes, neural chips, signal decoding algorithms, and full BCI systems.

• Two to three “world-class” companies established by 2030, alongside high-performing SMEs and emerging unicorns.

• Development of medical and non-medical applications, from rehabilitation to industrial safety, education, and consumer devices.

• Creation of national technical standards and regulatory pathways for faster market adoption.

• Integration of state funding, research, and commercial scaling to build a self-sustaining ecosystem.

BCI innovations shown at the World Robot Conference in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Several companies are already positioned to benefit. Shanghai-based StairMed is developing ultra-flexible neural electrodes that are softer and thinner than conventional designs, aiming to reduce tissue damage and improve signal stability. NeuCyber NeuroTech, in partnership with the China Institute for Brain Research, has developed the Beinao No. 1 implantable chip, which has already been used in multiple patients and is slated for larger trials. MicroPort NeuroScientific is expanding its neural-device portfolio, while Nanjing Panda Electronics, Xiangyu Medical, and Jiangsu Apon Medical are pushing further into neural interface hardware.

Chinese firms are taking a broader approach than their U.S. counterparts, combining invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive systems and targeting both medical and non-medical markets from the start. By contrast, Neuralink, Synchron, and Precision Neuroscience have focused first on severe medical indications, expanding toward consumer uses only after regulatory approval. China’s centralized model allows for faster trial starts and parallel standard-setting, while U.S. firms operate under a slower, more fragmented FDA process but enjoy stronger IP protections.

The gap, however, is still significant. U.S. companies have years of human trial experience, peer-reviewed data, and global visibility. Neuralink implanted its first human patient in early 2024, while Synchron has been running endovascular BCI trials since 2021. Many Chinese efforts remain in early clinical stages, with limited publicly available performance data. To match the U.S. by 2030, China will need to scale both engineering maturity and clinical validation at a pace rarely seen in neurotech.