China wants to out-neuralink Neuralink with brain chips ready by 2027
Published on Sep 01, 2025 at 3:07 PM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Sep 01, 2025 at 6:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
China isn’t just chasing Elon Musk’s Neuralink. It has signaled it wants to be a world leader in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
A new government playbook lays out a plan for breakthroughs in the technology by 2027 and an internationally competitive industry by 2030.
The ambitions go far beyond medical trials – the goal is to make BCIs part of everyday life.
And the groundwork is already being laid.
DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
The big push to beat Neuralink
The policy document isn’t just a wish list.
It was signed off by seven heavyweight agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and IT, the National Health Commission, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Together, they’ve mapped out steps to build better signal-capturing chips, improve decoding software, set industry standards, and create manufacturing capacity.
In the US, companies like Neuralink, Paradromics, and Synchron are already working towards these goals.
China is now racing to catch up.
And progress is visible.
In Shanghai, NeuroXess has implanted six patients with its device.
Three had their brain signals decoded into Chinese speech, while others used thought alone to control digital devices.
Over in Beijing, NeuCyber NeuroTech has a coin-sized chip called Beinao-1.
It has been implanted in five people with ‘excellent safety and stability,’ allowing recipients to move cursors and navigate smartphone apps.
A sixth implant is scheduled soon.
The roadmap beyond medicine
The roadmap doesn’t stop at paralysis treatments.
It sketches out medical uses like real-time brain monitoring to spot disease risks, and consumer systems that could nudge drowsy drivers back to attention.
It even backs industrial pilots in mining, nuclear energy, and hazardous materials. The aim is for BCIs to warn of fainting, poisoning, or low oxygen before disaster hits.
And it’s not all about implants.
China is betting big on everyday, non-invasive gear – headbands, earbuds, helmets, glasses, even headphones.
Stuff you could actually buy at your local tech shop.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that brain chips aren’t sci-fi anymore; they’re a timeline.
And with both medical and consumer uses in sight, China has positioned itself as a serious contender in the brain-computer race.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
