Beijing-backed Neurotech Aims for BCI Breakthrough as it Compares Itself to Neuralink

NeuCyber has achieved seven successful human implantations of its earlier device, the Beinao-1. This semi-invasive BCI features a mesh with electrodes placed on the brain's outer membrane.

Leading Chinese state-backed brain-computer interface (BCI) startup NeuCyber Neurotech has revealed that its cutting-edge product remains three years behind Elon Musk's Neuralink as Beijing intensifies efforts to expand clinical trials.

In a significant milestone, China last week became the first country globally to approve an invasive BCI medical device for commercial use, marking it as the second nation, following the United States, to initiate human trials for BCI technology.

NeuCyber’s flagship product, the Beinao-2, is an invasive BCI that employs flexible electrodes designed for full implantation into the brain. Currently, it is undergoing large-scale trials.

In comparison, Neuralink holds a technical edge with its surgical robot, capable of inserting hundreds of electrodes into the brain within minutes for its invasive N1 chip.

Li Yuan, rotating CEO of NeuCyber, a startup affiliated with the Beijing-based Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) said, "The benchmark for Beinao-2 is Neuralink. I have to say, (there is) about three years' lag because they have over 20 patients using it already...We have just finished the first product and have to go through animal testing, then early-feasibility clinical trials, and then the real trials. That's maybe about two years later for the real trial."

Further, the BCI device has recently received approval from Chinese regulators. This implant, developed by the Shanghai-based company Neuracle, is about the size of a coin and is designed to be placed on the brain's outer membrane. Its primary purpose is to control a robotic glove for patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.

In parallel, NeuCyber has achieved seven successful human implantations of its earlier device, the Beinao-1. This semi-invasive BCI features a mesh with electrodes placed on the brain's outer membrane.

According to company representative Li, patients, including quadriplegic survivors of car accidents, have reported notable improvements in hand motor function and the ability to remotely control computer cursors after using the device for six months.

Looking ahead, NeuCyber plans to expand clinical trials of the Beinao-1 to 50 patients this year. If successful, Beinao-1 could become the most widely implanted brain chip globally, underscoring China's commitment to advancing its capabilities in the BCI field and competing with leading foreign developers.

Neuralink currently has 21 participants enrolled in human clinical trials worldwide, as reported by the company in January. 

Li estimates that it may take two to three years before NeuCyber's brain-computer interface (BCI) products become widely available in the domestic market, provided they receive approval from China's health commission, medical insurance authorities, and medical product regulators. 

Additionally, the startup has secured approximately 200 million yuan (about $29 million) in funding from the Beijing government.

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