China’s first dedicated brain-computer interface (BCI) industry cluster is taking shape in Shanghai. Officials on Sunday signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop the hub in Minhang District’s New Hongqiao International Medical Center. The project involves support from the Minhang authorities, Lingang Group, Shanghai State-Owned Investment Co., and Huashan Hospital. The site is expected to be operational by the end of the year. BCI technology captures and decodes brain signals to enable direct communication between the brain and external devices, with potential applications in healthcare and rehabilitation. Shanghai is at the forefront of the sector in China, systematically advancing core BCI technologies and linking top research labs, hospitals and industry players to build an integrated innovation ecosystem, according to a report by Chinese media outlet The Paper. At the New Hongqiao facility, Huashan Hospital’s neurosurgery team has already performed key implant procedures. In early 2025, after receiving a high-channel-count flexible implant, a patient was able to think the phrase “Happy New Year 2025,” which was decoded by a computer to command a robotic hand to make a heart gesture. [The Paper, in Chinese]
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