China's new roadmap aims for global BCI leadership by 2030

China has published an “Implementation Plan for Promoting Innovation and Development of the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Industry,” which was jointly authored by seven ministries, signaling a coordinated policy-led push. The aim of this plan is to move BCIs from lab use cases to clinical use by 2027 while also building internationally competitive domestic champions by 2030. The path pursued by Beijing differs from Washington’s FDA-centric path, with China baking regulators into the process from day one to compress timelines.

Nevertheless, China aims that by 2027, breakthroughs in electrodes/chips/devices will allow applications across manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer markets, creating two to three industrial clusters. By 2030, China aims to have a safe and reliable BCI industrial system, with a few globally influential leaders leading the market plus a pipeline of specialized SMEs, while also building an internationally competitive ecosystem. China will also establish top-down coordination through the Central Science and Technology Commission, and encourages central and local governments to collaborate in launching pilots and scaling up more efficiently.

The plan focuses on developing implant electrodes with more channels and better compatibility with the body, as well as improved materials and clearer signals. It also supports new types of non-implant electrodes and sensors that use different signals, like light or electricity, to get more information. For computing, the plan calls for low-power chips that can be implanted, real-time decoding software, and large-scale production of wearable devices. State media reports early progress, including the development of domestic BCI chips and 128-channel electrodes for stable, long-term use.

Applications range from assistive technology that integrates brain signals with electromyography, electrooculography, electrocardiography, and near-infrared signals to developing surgical robots with submicron precision (extremely precise control at the microscopic level) and enhanced imaging capabilities. There are also plans for consumer and industrial applications, such as non-invasive wearables for driver alertness and workplace safety.

Beijing also plans to establish international standards and promote them internationally, while also strengthening data protection rules to safeguard brain privacy and providing more guidance for registering BCI medical devices. Funding will be sourced from national and small business funds, industry-finance platforms, and insurance to mitigate risks associated with early products. The plan also encourages foreign research centers and factories to set up in China.