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Mia Nurmamat

China is drawing up an extensive set of standards for brain-computer interface technology, seeking to accelerate the commercialisation of a field in which Chinese start-ups are increasingly competing with Elon Musk’s Neuralink for global leadership.
Under draft guidelines released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Beijing aims to formulate or revise more than 40 standards by 2028 and encourage at least 100 companies to adopt them. It also plans to lead or participate in the development of more than 10 international standards.
By 2030, China aims to have developed more than 80 standards, creating a comprehensive framework for the domestic industry while increasing its influence over global rules for the emerging neural technology.
Brain-computer interfaces allow the mind to communicate directly with external devices. Their potential uses range from restoring movement and speech in people with disabilities to controlling computers, industrial machinery and consumer electronics.
China has identified brain-computer interface technology as one of six “industries of the future” under its 15th five-year plan, as the country looks to nurture domestic competitors in a field where Neuralink is widely regarded as the commercial front runner.

Domestically, China has leading neural-tech firms such as Neuracle, which has won approval for an implanted system that helps paralysed patients regain hand movement, as well as StairMed and NeuroXess, which focus on invasive implants and the interpretation of neural signals, and BrainCo, which develops non-invasive devices and brain-controlled prosthetics.
Additionally, the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, along with Hebei province, have launched a joint initiative to strengthen the brain-computer technology supply chain, focusing on electrodes, chips, systems and algorithms. On Wednesday, Tianjin’s market regulator said the initiative was designed to promote closer regional cooperation and support industry development.
The MIIT said on Tuesday that the technology was entering a critical stage of commercialisation and broader adoption, making common standards essential to “guide innovation and ensure the industry’s orderly development”.
Its proposed framework spans hardware, software, data, products, commercial applications and safety, establishing common benchmarks for technologies that draw on fields as diverse as neuroscience, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and clinical medicine.
The draft divides products using the technology into six categories: medical devices, industrial production, consumer electronics, personal health, scientific research and integrated applications.
It proposes technical standards for uses ranging from industrial control and hazardous operations to brain-controlled gaming and immersive virtual and augmented reality.
For hardware, the guidelines cover the safety and durability of implanted electrodes, the accuracy and energy efficiency of chips and other components, and the reliability of equipment used to monitor, stimulate and communicate with the brain.
Common standards should make research findings easier to compare, improve compatibility between hardware and software
Citic Securities
Citic Securities said in a research note on Wednesday that clearer standards should make neural technologies easier to evaluate and integrate across the supply chain, benefiting companies with strong technological, manufacturing and testing capabilities.
Medical applications are given particular attention in the framework, which covers both implanted and non-invasive systems designed to diagnose neurological conditions, support rehabilitation and restore functions such as movement, speech and vision.
Potential applications include the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, spinal cord injuries and depression. Products classified as medical devices would remain subject to existing laws and regulatory requirements, the ministry said.
The guidelines also address how brain data should be stored, shared and analysed, while seeking to ensure that different devices, algorithms and software systems can work together.
“Common standards should make research findings easier to compare, improve compatibility between hardware and software, and reduce the cost of connecting technologies developed by different companies,” the Citic Securities note said.
The brokerage added that clearer benchmarks for product design, safety testing and clinical evaluation could also improve cooperation among companies, hospitals and testing institutions, helping turn experimental neural systems into products suitable for clinical use.
China’s brain-computer technology industry is expected to be worth between 10 billion yuan (US$1.49 billion) and 14 billion yuan by 2030, according to estimates by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.


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Dozens of guidelines are coming, covering medical, industrial and consumer users as emerging neural technology moves towards wider adoption


Dozens of guidelines are coming, covering medical, industrial and consumer users as emerging neural technology moves towards wider adoption.


Brain-tech push gains pace as China draws up standards and firms challenge Neuralink

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dozens of guidelines are coming, covering medical, industrial and consumer users as emerging neural technology moves towards wider adoption

Dozens of guidelines are coming, covering medical, industrial and consumer users as emerging neural technology moves towards wider adoption