China approves brain-computer interface products to compete with Neuralink

China's health regulators have cleared multiple brain-computer interface products for market use in 2024, handing domestic start-ups a foothold in a sector where Beijing is racing to outpace Elon Musk's Neuralink.

The National Medical Products Administration approved a cognitive assessment system on August 19 developed by Tiankai Suishi (Tianjin) Intelligent Technology, a cap fitted with electrodes that reads electrical signals from the scalp to help doctors evaluate whether a patient's cognitive functions have been damaged.

Beijing backs homegrown brain-tech firms

The approvals are part of a broader government effort to establish Chinese leadership in brain-computer interfaces, devices that enable patients to operate digital equipment through thought alone, with policy support designed to help local companies compete with international rivals including Neuralink.

Tiankai Suishi also markets brain-computer interface systems for early detection of cognitive decline tied to Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, and is seeking regulatory clearance for a depression diagnostic tool.

The firm was established in 2023 with registered capital of 10.67 million yuan (US$1.59 million) and is headed by Gu Bin, who earned a doctorate from Tianjin University's medical school.

Chinese start-ups are working to apply the technology across a range of conditions, from paraplegia to depression, as the country positions itself to lead the emerging field.

Source: South China Morning Post