The nation has indicated its goal to be the global frontrunner in the field of brain-computer interfaces with a detailed policy document published in July 2025 and clearly outlining how it plans to achieve breakthroughs in the development of key technologies by 2027 and establish a global-competitive BCI sector by 2030 with the market size projected to increase to RMB 3.2 billion in 2024 to RMB 5.58 billion in 2027 and become one of the most prominent BCI innovators in the
Global BCI leadership is targeted by the government roadmap
China has already indicated that it has a goal of becoming a worldwide leader in brain-computer interfaces, the same technology being developed by Elon Musk with Neuralink and a host of U.S. startups, according to Wired. The report is called the Implementation Opinions on Promoting Innovation and Development of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry and contains a strategic plan for the development of the BCI industry.
The policy sets targets of 2027 and 2030, defining the measures to reinforce research, industry standards, development of high-performance products, and real-life applications.ย China Briefing reports that in 2024, the BCI industry in China had increased to RMB 3.2 billion (US$446 million), which is a growth of 18.8 percent per annum. It is estimated that the market would expand to RMB5.58 billion (US$777.7 million) by 2027 with an annual growth rate of 20 percent.
Dominating firms are formed in invasive segments
The non-invasive segment is approximately 82 percent of the overall market today, and has a total value of RMB 2.63 billion (US$366.6 million) in 2024, with increased access and reduced complexity to use, compared to invasive BCIs. Nevertheless, invasive BCIs will grow as a portion of the industry with the advancement of technology and will reach 25 percent by 2027.
Numerous top Chinese firms have surfaced in both invasive and non-invasive BCI markets, with some operating for over a decade. Their applications cover medical rehabilitation and neurological research at one end and consumer health and human-machine interaction at the other end, such as BrainCo, Neuracle, and NeuroXess.
The largest proportion of companies in the BCI industry is based in Guangdong, with a total of 80 key companies by 2024 then there are 37 key companies in Jiangxi, 28 key companies in Zhejiang, and 26 in Beijing. In spite of this distribution, Beijing was the leader in patent applications with 484 applications in 2024, and then Guangdong had 360 applications.
The policy framework promotes foreign investment opportunities
Under China’s present market access negative lists, the BCI sector is not limited, and is actively promoted in the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries of Foreign Investment, which expressly refers to the research, development, and production of new computer systems, relying on quantum and brain-like mechanisms.
There are various entry modes into the BCI industry of China that the foreign investors could participate in collaboration with the Chinese research institutes, to invest directly in companies that produce major BCI products, or to access upstream and midstream supply chains, especially in technologies and hardware that support the performance of the BCI industry.
Big cities put into effect wholesome development strategies
A number of large cities and provinces in China have published their own BCI development strategies that run to the 2025-2030 timeframe. Beijing has set out a goal to foster three to five unicorns by 2027, Shanghai the widespread adoption of BCI products by 2030, and Sichuan 3,000 invasive BCI operations each year by 2030.
The overall plan by China to take control of brain-computer interface technology by 2027 is a serious challenge to both Western leadership in the new technology, with heavy government funding, well-organized policy plans, and increasing investment that is placing Chinese firms in a position to change the global face of BCI by both medical technologies and consumer technologies.