China’s NeuCyber says brain implant lags Neuralink by three years
Chinese state-backed startup NeuCyber Neurotech said its most advanced brain implant is about three years behind Elon Musk’s Neuralink, highlighting a gap between the two countries in the fast-developing field of brain computer interfaces.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, rotating chief executive Li Yuan said Neuralink remains the benchmark, noting the US company has already implanted its device in more than 20 patients. NeuCyber’s next-generation system, Beinao-2, is still in large-scale animal testing, with human clinical trials expected in about two years.
Neuralink has enrolled 21 participants in clinical trials as of January, giving it a lead in real-world testing of fully invasive brain interfaces. In contrast, Beinao-2 uses flexible electrodes implanted directly into brain tissue but has yet to begin human trials.
NeuCyber’s earlier system, Beinao-1, has progressed further. The semi-invasive device places electrodes on the outer surface of the brain and has been implanted in seven patients, including quadriplegic accident survivors who showed improved hand movement and the ability to control a computer cursor. The company plans to expand these trials to 50 patients this year.
China has identified brain computer interfaces as a strategic priority. The technology is included in the country’s latest five-year plan alongside quantum computing and advanced artificial intelligence. NeuCyber has received about 200 million yuan in government funding, and a separate 11.6 billion yuan national fund has been launched to support the broader neuroscience sector.
Regulatory progress is also advancing. China recently became the first country to approve a fully invasive brain computer interface device for commercial sale, granting authorization to Shanghai-based Neuracle Technology for an implant designed to restore hand mobility in partially paralyzed adults.
Despite the current gap, China aims to develop several globally competitive brain interface companies by 2030. NeuCyber, backed by a state industrial group and working with the Chinese Institute for Brain Research, is positioned within a government-supported pipeline linking research and manufacturing.
Company leadership described its position as trailing Neuralink for now but supported by sufficient resources and policy backing to close the gap over time.
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