How China Turned Neurotechnology into a State Program.
While Elon Musk prepares for new brain chip implants, another player is approaching human trials in China. In just a few years, Shanghai-based NeuroXess has gone from a startup to a leader in the neural interface race and now hopes to overtake Neuralink.
Brain-computer interfaces were recognized as a strategically important area in China last year. Following this, the government launched a large-scale support program, simplified approvals, accelerated funding, and effectively combined the efforts of the state and private capital. The goal is ambitious. By 2030, the country aims to have two or three companies in this field achieve global market share. At least ten clinical trials of invasive neural interfaces are already underway in China.
NeuroXess was founded in 2021. In less than five years, the company has conducted human trials and reported its first results. One patient with paralysis was able to control a computer cursor with his mind. Moreover, he began performing simple tasks just five days after the device was implanted.
The NeuroXess technology is invasive, meaning it requires surgical intervention. The developers are focusing on patients with severe disabilities, such as paralysis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the design differs from Neuralink's solution. The Chinese system is a polyimide and metal mesh that is placed on the surface of the brain without penetrating the tissue.
Neuralink, by contrast, inserts tiny threads with electrodes into the brain that read signals from within. Critics point to the risk of tissue scarring and possible signal degradation over time, though Musk's company dismisses these concerns. NeuroXess circumvents this issue with a different design.
In terms of data transfer speed, the American development is still ahead. In tests, Neuralink achieved approximately 10 bits per second, while the NeuroXess system achieved approximately 5.2 bits per second. The gap is significant, but the Chinese company is banking on rapid scalability and government support.
Interestingly, advances in invasive implants are gradually helping non-invasive systems that don't require surgery. Researchers hope that over time, the accuracy and speed of such solutions will improve to the point that the need for complex surgical procedures will decrease.
China has another advantage in this race. A large patient population, centralized support, and relatively low costs create a vicious cycle. More data allows for faster algorithm refinement, lower costs attract new users, and that brings in more data. If this mechanism truly works, the balance of power in the neural interface market could shift more quickly than many expected.
While Elon Musk prepares for new brain chip implants, another player is approaching human trials in China. In just a few years, Shanghai-based NeuroXess has gone from a startup to a leader in the neural interface race and now hopes to overtake Neuralink.
Brain-computer interfaces were recognized as a strategically important area in China last year. Following this, the government launched a large-scale support program, simplified approvals, accelerated funding, and effectively combined the efforts of the state and private capital. The goal is ambitious. By 2030, the country aims to have two or three companies in this field achieve global market share. At least ten clinical trials of invasive neural interfaces are already underway in China.
NeuroXess was founded in 2021. In less than five years, the company has conducted human trials and reported its first results. One patient with paralysis was able to control a computer cursor with his mind. Moreover, he began performing simple tasks just five days after the device was implanted.
The NeuroXess technology is invasive, meaning it requires surgical intervention. The developers are focusing on patients with severe disabilities, such as paralysis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the design differs from Neuralink's solution. The Chinese system is a polyimide and metal mesh that is placed on the surface of the brain without penetrating the tissue.
Neuralink, by contrast, inserts tiny threads with electrodes into the brain that read signals from within. Critics point to the risk of tissue scarring and possible signal degradation over time, though Musk's company dismisses these concerns. NeuroXess circumvents this issue with a different design.
In terms of data transfer speed, the American development is still ahead. In tests, Neuralink achieved approximately 10 bits per second, while the NeuroXess system achieved approximately 5.2 bits per second. The gap is significant, but the Chinese company is banking on rapid scalability and government support.
Interestingly, advances in invasive implants are gradually helping non-invasive systems that don't require surgery. Researchers hope that over time, the accuracy and speed of such solutions will improve to the point that the need for complex surgical procedures will decrease.
China has another advantage in this race. A large patient population, centralized support, and relatively low costs create a vicious cycle. More data allows for faster algorithm refinement, lower costs attract new users, and that brings in more data. If this mechanism truly works, the balance of power in the neural interface market could shift more quickly than many expected.
