Enabling people to control computers with their minds and even getting those who are paralyzed to walk using brain-implanted devices is now a reality, thanks to revolutionary brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that builds a bridge between the brain and machines.

This year's government work report has identified BCI as one of the future industries to be prioritized for development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Located in eastern China, Jiangxi province is striving to build a pilot zone for the BCI industry through four major pathways: policy support, clinical breakthroughs, industrial implementation and ecosystem development.

Tech transformation

Recently, during a surgical procedure at the Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, a surgical team — assisted by a high-precision neurosurgical robot — precisely implanted a 1,024-channel high-density stretchable electrode array into a patient's brain.

With the successful completion of intraoperative testing, a brand-new "data superhighway" has been established between the patient's brain and the external world.

Once the patient has completed their recovery, decoding algorithm engineers will guide them to use their thoughts to control a cursor on a screen and to "speak" the words they wish to communicate.

Clinical application represents the "first mile" in the transformation of BCI technological achievements. The success of this surgery clearly demonstrates Jiangxi's high-level promotion for the development of future industries.

Currently, patients suffering from conditions such as epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and high paraplegia have strong practical needs of BCI technology.

In October 2025, the first BCI clinical research ward in Jiangxi was established through a collaboration between the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and NeuroXess, a pioneering BCI company that developed China's first fully implanted wireless BCI with an integrated battery.

"Our collaboration with this hospital aims to conduct large-scale clinical research," explained Tao Hu, founder and chief scientist of NeuroXess, "On one hand, we hope to benefit patients in Jiangxi; on the other, we seek to acquire high-quality, high-value electroencephalogram data to provide the necessary foundation for optimizing and iterating our algorithms, thereby enhancing product performance."

Policy support

Scientific research and clinical application alone are insufficient to support a thriving industry. Industrial prosperity demands the precise alignment of policy, technology and capital.

In 2023, BCI was included in Jiangxi's future industry plan.

Five BCI medical service price items, which came into effect on November 1 last year, make Jiangxi the sixth province nationwide to implement relevant BCI medical service pricing.

In November 2025, the provincial government issued Several Measures to Accelerate the Development of BCI Technology and Industry, putting forward 11 specific initiatives.

In response, related government departments established a special review channel for innovative medical devices, to accelerate BCI products' market launch. A BCI product testing center is also being prepared, making use of the provincial medical device testing center.

By the end of 2025, Jiangxi had issued several measures, providing full-chain policy support for the BCI sector — from scientific research and clinical trials to review, approval and industrial implementation.

Ganjiang New Area, China's 18th national-level new area located north of Nanchang city, has established a 300 million RMB special fund for the BCI industry, adopting a funding support plus equity cooperation model to provide critical seed funding for promising BCI enterprises.

"In Jiangxi, I have witnessed the concerted efforts of all parties to provide application scenarios and advance clinical research and technology application, and I feel the strong determination to cultivate and grow the BCI industry," said Zhou Zhitao, chief technology officer of NeuroXess.