A Chinese research institute and technology company has announced plans to implant brain chips in 13 people by year’s end, positioning them to potentially outpace Elon Musk’s Neuralink in patient data collection. According to a report in Reuters, Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and NeuCyber NeuroTech have already equipped three patients with their Beinao No.1 chip over the past month, with 10 more procedures scheduled for 2025. The report quotes Luo Minmin, CIBR director and NeuCyber’s chief scientist. This means that America’s supremacy in human brain chip implants may also end.
As the year 2026 may reportedly see an even bigger leap for Chinese company. “Once we get regulatory approval, we’re aiming for clinical trials with about 50 patients,” Luo revealed during a press chat at the Zhongguancun Forum, a major tech event in Beijing, as per the Reuters report. He kept mum on funding details and trial timelines but hinted at ambitious goals for the state-backed NeuCyber.
Beinao may become the No.1 most-tested brain chip globally
This rapid push could crown Beinao No.1 as the most-tested brain chip globally, spotlighting China’s drive to rival top brain-computer interface (BCI) developers. Right now, the US-based Synchron –backed by heavyweights like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates — leads with 10 patients across the US and Australia. Neuralink trails with three.
The Beinao No.1, a semi-invasive chip placed on the brain’s surface, differs from Neuralink’s fully invasive approach, which dives deeper for better signals but ups the risk of complications. China’s method trades some signal strength for safety — a choice showcased in recent state media videos. There, paralyzed patients used Beinao No.1 to steer robotic arms, pour water, and even project thoughts onto screens.
“Since word got out about these trials, we’ve been flooded with people begging for help,” Luo told Reuters, underscoring the demand. Just last year, CIBR and NeuCyber were still in the lab, testing an invasive Beinao No.2 chip on a monkey that successfully controlled a robotic arm. Now, they’re cooking up a wireless version akin to Neuralink’s, with human tests eyed in 12 to 18 months.
Synchron, meanwhile, just teamed up with Nvidia to weave AI into its BCI tech. Luo admitted NeuCyber’s on the hunt for cash and partners too, but warned that anyone jumping in needs patience. NeuCyber, owned by Zhongguancun Development Corporation, isn’t short on resources — its parent raked in over 9 billion yuan ($1.24 billion) last year. With 13 implants targeted for 2025, China’s BCI race is heating up fast.
