Shanghai launches China's first brain-computer interface hub

Shanghai has launched construction on China's first brain-computer interface (BCI) industry cluster, aiming to bring together innovation resources, industrial forces, and clinical capabilities to accelerate the development of the BCI field.

The Shanghai Future Industry Cluster for BCI is located in the Hongqiao International Medical Center. At the launch event, a cooperation agreement was signed by Minhang district, Lingang Group, Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co Ltd, and Huashan Hospital. A set of dedicated policies and a BCI industry fund matrix were also released to support the cluster.

The launch of the BCI cluster reflects Shanghai's broader push to seize opportunities in frontier technologies and develop future industries. In January, the city released the Shanghai Action Plan for Cultivating the Brain-Computer Interface Future Industry (2025–30), supporting the development of invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive BCI technologies.

By collocating enterprises, research institutes, and hospitals in one industrial park, the cluster is designed to improve communication and coordination between scientific research, engineering development, and clinical application.

Two municipal key laboratories — one focused on brain function remodeling and neural regeneration, the other on clinical translation of BCI — have already been established in the cluster, both affiliated with Huashan Hospital.

In recent years, Huashan Hospital has collaborated with local BCI companies including Neuracle, NeuroXess, and StairMed, performing implant surgeries for patients with motor and speech impairments. After training, the patients have been able to regain limited functions such as drinking water, controlling apps, and using smart wheelchairs or home systems through brain signals.

Huashan Hospital is currently conducting a BCI clinical cohort study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the technology across multiple centers in China.