China’s Brain-Computer Interface Technology Enters Daily Life
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is rapidly transitioning from laboratory research to practical everyday applications in China, according to a comprehensive investigation by Xinhua News. The technology, which enables direct communication between the brain and external devices, is showing significant promise across medical rehabilitation, mental health treatment, assistive technology, and aerospace applications, marking a pivotal moment in China’s technological development.
From Paralysis to Mobility: The ‘Shen Gong’ Breakthrough
One of the most striking demonstrations of BCI’s potential comes from the Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration Haihe Laboratory (BCI Haihe Lab) in Tianjin. In a recent demonstration, a stroke patient with lower limb paralysis — once unable to bend their knee and heavily reliant on a walker — was shown climbing stairs independently using a BCI system called “Shen Gong-Shen Chi.”
This system integrates brain-computer interface technology with spinal cord electrical stimulation and a hybrid-driven exoskeleton, effectively creating an “invisible crutch” for patients. According to Gu Bin, Industry Minister of BCI Haihe Lab and General Manager of Tiankai Suishi (Tianjin) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., the “Shen Gong-Shen Ji” and related devices developed by the company have cumulatively served over 1,000 patients.
Hearing the World More Clearly
BCI technology is also transforming the lives of hearing-impaired children. The “Little Dolphin” choir, composed of children with hearing impairments, demonstrated remarkable improvements in speech perception and mental well-being after undergoing BCI closed-loop feedback hearing assessment combined with music rehabilitation training.
Ni Guangjian, Executive Deputy Director of BCI Haihe Lab and Director of Tianjin University Hospital Management Office, explained the distinction: “Traditional clinical cochlear implant technology solves the problem of whether hearing-impaired children ‘can hear sound,’ while BCI technology allows them to ‘hear more clearly and understand better.’”
China’s Competitive Position in Global BCI
China has emerged as a global leader in non-invasive BCI technology — the safest and most commercially viable pathway, which accounts for 88 percent of the country’s over 200 BCI-related enterprises. Ming Dong, Director of BCI Haihe Lab and Vice President of Tianjin University, stated that “non-invasive BCI technology has achieved parity with international advanced levels, with China leading in certain sub-fields. The technology gap in invasive BCI key components is rapidly narrowing.”
This positioning is strategically significant. While companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink dominate headlines with invasive brain implants, China’s focus on non-invasive solutions may prove advantageous for widespread consumer adoption. The country’s BCI market is projected to reach 55.8 billion yuan (approximately $7.7 billion USD) by 2027, according to CCID Consulting.
Policy Backing and Ecosystem Development
BCI has been designated as one of six priority future industries in China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” (2026-2030), signaling strong government backing. Multiple provinces, including Jiangxi, have issued specific policies to accelerate BCI technology and industrial development.
The BCI Haihe Laboratory, established in March 2023 in Tianjin, has become China’s premier BCI research institution. The ecosystem surrounding it includes a dedicated BCI industry fund with an initial scale of 1 billion yuan, China’s first BCI undergraduate major at Tianjin University, and the country’s first BCI comprehensive clinical trial ward established in collaboration with Tianjin Huanhu Hospital.
Mental Health Applications
Beyond physical rehabilitation, BCI is making inroads into mental health treatment. At Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, a navigation transcranial magnetic stimulation device — a form of non-invasive BCI — is being used to treat depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. As reported by Jiangxi News, one patient described the experience: “After two sessions of navigation transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment, I felt like the distracting thoughts in my brain had been ‘smashed.’”
Huang Xiaojun, Director of the Psychosomatic Medicine Department at the hospital, explained that the device can combine with patients’ individual brain network maps to precisely locate and stimulate specific sub-regions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex related to emotional regulation, achieving personalized and efficient treatment.
Expanding Horizons and Cautious Optimism
BCI applications are expanding beyond medicine into aerospace (space station EEG testing), industrial safety (risk monitoring for hazardous work), education, and consumer entertainment. However, experts caution against what they describe as “science fiction-ization” and “entertainment-ization” of the technology, emphasizing that BCI should focus on solving practical problems in specific domains.
Current limitations remain significant. Many BCI rehabilitation devices are still large and require professional operation. Improving portability, ease of use, and battery life are key challenges for mass market adoption. Ni Guangjian noted that future development trends will see grassroots rehabilitation institutions using these devices, “and even patients being able to purchase them for home use.”
What to Watch For
As China’s BCI ecosystem continues to mature, several developments bear watching: the establishment of regulatory frameworks for BCI devices, the expansion of home-use rehabilitation technology, and the integration of BCI with artificial intelligence for more sophisticated brain signal decoding. With strong policy support, a growing industrial base, and accelerating clinical translation, China is positioning itself at the forefront of a technology that could fundamentally reshape human-machine interaction in the years ahead.