China’s CIBR and NeuCyber Speed Up Brain-Computer Interface Trials After Initial Success
China’s Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and state-backed tech firm NeuCyber NeuroTech have collaborated to implant its brain-computer interface (BCI) chip into 13 patients by the end of this year as reported by Reuters.
The Beijing-based partners have completed three semi-invasive Beinao No.1 implants in the past month and plan to conduct ten more before the year’s end, according to CIBR Director and NeuCyber Chief Scientist Luo Minmin.
If successful, the initiative could outpace US competitors like Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Synchron regarding patient volume, highlighting China’s commitment to becoming a global leader in BCI technology.
Larger Clinical Trials Planned for 2025
Luo Minmin, director of CIBR, revealed that formal clinical trials involving around 50 patients are expected to begin next year following regulatory approval. While details around funding and trial duration were not disclosed, the scale indicates NeuCyber’s ambitions to become a major player in neurotechnology.
"Since news of Beinao No. 1's successful human trials came out, we have received countless pleas for help,” Luo told reporters at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing.
Challenging US and Global BCI Leaders
US-based Synchron holds the record for the most human trials, with 10 patients enrolled across the US and Australia. Elon Musk’s Neuralink has implanted its wireless chip in three individuals. Unlike Neuralink’s fully invasive approach, which places chips deep inside the brain for higher signal fidelity, Beinao No.1 uses a semi-invasive method, putting the device on the brain’s surface. This limits the signal quality but reduces the risk of complications such as brain tissue damage.
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Demonstrated Success Sparks Interest
Chinese state media recently shared footage of paralyzed patients using the Beinao No.1 chip to operate a robotic arm to pour water and translate thoughts onto a computer screen.
Luo also disclosed that a wireless version of Beinao No.2, an invasive chip tested successfully in monkeys is in development and could enter human trials within 12 to 18 months. This next-generation version resembles Neuralink’s design and aims to improve signal performance while retaining wireless functionality.
