China is stepping up efforts to advance brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, even as one of its leading state-backed startups acknowledges it remains several years behind U.S. competitor Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk.

NeuCyber Neurotech, a Beijing-affiliated BCI firm, said its most advanced system is still about three years behind Neuralink’s technology, highlighting the gap in a rapidly evolving field that is drawing global attention. The company’s rotating CEO, Li Yuan, noted that Neuralink already has more than 20 human patients using its implant, giving it a significant head start.

The remarks come as China intensifies its national push into BCIs. Last week, the country approved its first invasive brain-computer interface device for commercial use—marking a global milestone—and continues to expand human clinical trials in the sector. China is also only the second country, after the United States, to conduct such trials.

NeuCyber’s flagship product, Beinao-2, is an invasive BCI designed with flexible electrodes that fully implant into the brain. The device is currently undergoing large-scale animal testing, with human trials expected to follow after regulatory مراحل are completed. By comparison, Neuralink’s N1 chip benefits from a surgical robot capable of inserting hundreds of electrodes into the brain within minutes, a key technological advantage.

China’s broader ambitions are reflected in its latest five-year plan, which identifies BCIs as a strategic priority industry alongside emerging fields such as quantum technology and nuclear fusion. The designation underscores Beijing’s intent to close the gap with global leaders and establish domestic dominance in next-generation technologies.

Recent regulatory approval has also paved the way for commercialization. A Shanghai-based firm, Neuracle, received clearance for a coin-sized wireless implant that sits on the brain’s outer membrane and can control a robotic glove. The device is designed to assist patients with spinal cord injuries.

A detailed view shows the miniaturised processor and electrodes of Beinao-1, a semi-invasive brain-machine interface system also known as the NeuCyber Matrix BMI system, during an organised media tour to Chinese Institute for Brain Research in Beijing, China March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Florence Lo Purchase Licensing Rights
NeuCyber, meanwhile, has already conducted seven human implantations using its earlier Beinao-1 system, a semi-invasive BCI. According to the company, patients—including those with severe paralysis—have shown improvements in hand movement and the ability to control computer interfaces after several months of use.

The firm aims to expand clinical trials of Beinao-1 to as many as 50 patients this year, a step seen as critical for eventual regulatory approval. If successful, the device could become one of the most widely tested brain chips globally.

Despite progress, commercialization timelines remain cautious. NeuCyber estimates it could take another two to three years before its BCI products are widely available in China, pending approvals from health and regulatory authorities.

Backed by roughly $29 million in funding from the Beijing government, the startup is focusing on restoring motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries—a key application area for BCI technology.

As competition intensifies, the race between China and the United States in brain-computer interfaces is increasingly seen as a defining frontier in both medical innovation and technological leadership.