The battle for the "No. 1 city for brain-computer interfaces" has begun.

At the end of July, an internal document presented by Neuralink in the United States to investors showed that by 2031, the company expects to implant chips in 20,000 patients annually, with an annual revenue of at least $1 billion. This news quickly caught global attention and reignited humanity's expectations and imaginations about "brain-machine symbiosis."

The once unattainable fantasy of brain control is gradually becoming a reality. In China, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, the popularity of brain-computer interfaces has also been rising steadily along with the summer temperatures.

Since the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of Future Industries" listed brain-computer interfaces as one of the top ten innovative and iconic products, four provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Shandong, have successively introduced industrial action plans. Public hospitals across the country have officially announced their entry into the clinical treatment phase of brain-computer interfaces.

A regional competition for the high ground of future technology has already begun.

This not only marks that China has become the second country in the world, after the United States, to enter the clinical trial phase in the field of invasive brain-computer interfaces. It also indicates that whoever can achieve technological transformation and implementation first will gain the initiative in future industries.

Driven by continuous policy promotion and accelerated technological implementation, the development of brain-computer interfaces is not only a competition for innovation among major technological powers. The domestic regional competition is also intensifying, with numerous players vying for the lead.

From the intensive layout of scientific research resources to the accelerated construction of industrial ecosystems, multiple regions are seizing the initiative in future development paths through differentiated development strategies, jointly aiming to reach the high ground of the brain-computer interface industry.

So, what kind of city can be regarded as a high ground for brain-computer interfaces?

01

Two Cities and One Region: Joint Research and Chain Development

As a typical representative of future industrial development, brain-computer interfaces show great potential and prospects in various fields. The competition to become the "Number One City for Brain-Computer Interfaces" is not only a test of technological strength but also a competition in building industrial ecosystems and integrating resources.

Based on this, Arterial Network first focuses on Beijing, Shanghai, and the Greater Bay Area. By analyzing their scientific research capabilities, clinical resources, industrial foundations, and policy systems, we have drawn a capability map of the leading cities in China's brain-computer interface industry, hoping to provide insights for other cities exploring this field.

Compiled by Arterial Network based on incomplete public data

● Beijing: Development through Reduction, Resource Support, and Industry Feedback

Beijing has world-class scientific research resources and significant talent advantages. It is home to more than half of the country's academicians and numerous top universities and research institutions, providing unparalleled intellectual support. At the same time, many headquarters or regional headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies are concentrated here, resulting in a prominent industrial agglomeration effect.

As a large and historically rich city, Beijing also faces the "big city disease" caused by the over - concentration of urban functions. Since 2017, Beijing has embarked on a transformation path and became the first city in China to implement development through reduction. By optimizing and adjusting its industrial structure, it has phased out general manufacturing industries to create conditions for the development of emerging industries.

The "Action Plan for Accelerating the Innovative Development of Brain-Computer Interfaces in Beijing (2025 - 2030)" states that Beijing will focus on "core technologies such as electrodes, chips, and algorithms" in the field of precision manufacturing. By 2030, it aims to "build a global leading enterprise cluster and form 1 - 2 industrial demonstration zones" and construct "a full - chain of 'technological breakthrough - platform building - cluster cultivation'." It also emphasizes the application of brain-computer interfaces in "industrial" scenarios, aiming to improve both productivity and efficiency in cutting - edge technology while building a high - ground for brain-computer interfaces.

● Shanghai: Industrial Leadership, Closed - Loop Ecosystem, and High - Density Industrial Chain

Always at the forefront of the times, Shanghai launched and implemented the "Action Plan for Building an Innovation High - ground for Future Industries and Developing and Strengthening Future Industry Clusters in Shanghai" in September 2022, becoming one of the first cities in China to layout future industries. In 2024, Shanghai further focused on 16 sub - fields of five future industries, formulating "one - industry, one - plan." It was the first to recommend 89 projects in the directions of metaverse, humanoid robots, brain - computer interfaces, and general artificial intelligence to participate in the "Challenge - based Innovation" program of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with the number of relevant projects ranking first in the country.

The brain - computer interface is the intersection of three leading industries: integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence. To accelerate technological breakthroughs and industrial implementation, in June 2025, the first national brain - computer interface future industry cluster was launched in Shanghai. By integrating upstream and downstream resources of the industrial chain, such as scientific research, clinical practice, and product development, this cluster promotes the concentrated layout of innovative elements and improves the innovation ecosystem and industrial environment where "going up or down a floor means reaching upstream or downstream partners."

In addition, at the launch ceremony of the cluster, collaborative institutions such as the Brain - Computer Interface Clinical Trial and Transformation Innovation Consortium and the iBRAIN EEG Data Alliance were established, making the industrialization of brain - computer interfaces a revolutionary force that can change people's lives. As emphasized in the "Action Plan for Cultivating the Future Industry of Brain - Computer Interfaces in Shanghai (2025 - 2030)", "centering on medical - grade scenarios... high - quality brain control, and semi - invasive brain - computer interface products will be the first in China to achieve clinical application."

Jieti Medical from Shanghai, the first domestic implantable brain - computer interface enterprise to complete the registration - type inspection, said in a previous interview, "We hope to gradually build a downstream application ecosystem. The downstream application ecosystem will be similar to the Android app store. People can develop various downstream peripheral application scenarios based on our standardized interfaces, and terminal manufacturers can join this ecosystem." This open - ended ecosystem construction model can not only provide more solutions for patients but also promote the application expansion of the entire brain - computer interface industry chain, accelerating the process of bringing the technology from the laboratory to people's daily lives.

● The Greater Bay Area: Complete Ecosystem, Strong Manufacturing Engine, but Hidden Barriers

In the Greater Bay Area, cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou are well - known. However, if we only consider the foundation of a single city, there is still a significant gap compared with Beijing and Shanghai. Nevertheless, the Greater Bay Area, with "nine cities + two special administrative regions," has formed a complete brain - computer interface industrial ecosystem through the complementary development of each city.

On the one hand, Shenzhen's innovation vitality and Guangzhou's clinical resources complement each other, and they collaborate with surrounding cities like Foshan and Dongguan in manufacturing ecosystems and supply chains. On the other hand, the high - density urban agglomeration creates a rich variety of application scenarios for brain - computer interfaces. Coupled with strong capital and policy innovation advantages, the Greater Bay Area provides a full - chain guarantee for the brain - computer interface industry from basic research to product implementation.

At the seminar on the establishment of the "Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area Brain - Computer Interface Innovation Industry Alliance" in June 2025, it was pointed out that the Greater Bay Area has significant advantages in talent cultivation, technology R & D, clinical resources, industrial chains, and international cooperation in the field of brain - computer interfaces. There is an urgent need to establish a Greater Bay Area alliance to integrate resources and promote collaborative innovation to build a key fulcrum for the national strategic layout of brain - computer interfaces.

02

Two Provinces and Two Cities: Distinctive Features and Seizing Opportunities

Currently, the economic value of brain - computer interfaces for regional development has begun to emerge. In addition to Beijing, Shanghai, and the Greater Bay Area, Sichuan, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Hubei have also introduced industrial action plans, aiming to gain a foothold in the future competition of the brain - computer interface industry.

Compiled by Arterial Network based on incomplete public data

● Populous and Industrial Provinces Emphasizing the Construction of an Integrated Chain Platform

Both Shandong and Sichuan are populous and industrial provinces. They have a large patient population and two top - level medical centers in China, Qilu and West China. They also have advantages in emerging fields such as medical device manufacturing and biomaterial R & D.

Shandong mainly focuses on non - invasive technologies. However, the "Scientific and Technological Innovation Action Plan for the Brain - Computer Interface Industry in Shandong Province (2025 - 2027)" clearly states that it will "explore the application of invasive brain - computer interface technologies in major clinical diseases," indicating its plan to move into the deeper waters of technology.

The brain - computer interface industry in Sichuan features "dual - engine drive." The "Brain - Computer Interface and Human - Machine Interaction Industry Attack Plan (2025 - 2030) in Sichuan" states that it will "simultaneously promote two technological paths of invasive and non - invasive brain - computer interfaces."

At the inauguration ceremony of the Brain - Computer Interface Clinical and Transformation Center of Shandong First Medical University at the end of July, Academician Lu Lin pointed out that "Shandong currently lacks a chain - carrier that can integrate the 'R & D - industry - medical' integrated development of brain - computer interfaces and a platform that can effectively attract and bring together more scientific research institutions, medical institutions, and enterprises from both inside and outside the province for cross - border integration." The establishment of this center aims to build a collaborative innovation community of "industry - university - research - application" and accelerate the transformation of Shandong's brain - computer interface technology from the laboratory to clinical applications.

During the same period, the Sichuan Brain - Computer Interface Pilot and Public Service Platform was officially inaugurated. This is the first professional platform in the western region that covers the full - chain of 'technological R & D - pilot verification - registration and production - scenario implementation'. Its purpose is to promote the implementation and application of brain - computer interface products in fields such as smart healthcare, elderly care and disability assistance, and special education, filling the key gaps in Sichuan's brain - computer interface industrial chain.

Wu Jiazhen, COO of Xinyuan Brain Science said, "The Chengdu government has attached great importance to the development of the brain - computer interface industry since last year. Provincial leaders have also visited enterprises for inspections many times, aiming to make Chengdu the core driving force and build Sichuan into a brain science center in the southwest region. At the same time, the government has introduced preferential policies such as supporting funds, landing policies, and rent - free sites, with significant investment promotion efforts, which have attracted brain - computer interface enterprises from across the country."

● Advantageous Resources Support Industrial Development and Enter the "Fast Lane"

Zhejiang is worth mentioning. From Professor Zhang Jianmin of the Brain Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang University initiating China's invasive brain - computer interface clinical research to Professor Pan Gang, the director of the National Key Laboratory of Brain - Machine Intelligence, making underlying innovations in brain - like computing chips, Zhejiang is in the first echelon in China in the fields of invasive brain - computer interface hardware, non - invasive systems, and brain - computer applications.

Key milestones in the development of brain - computer interfaces, compiled by Arterial Network

In November 2024, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University cooperated with Zhiran Medical to complete the world's first implantation surgery of ultra - thin flexible deep electrodes. Song Qi, CEO of Zhiran Medical said, "This electrode is the world's only flexible electrode that supports both acquisition and stimulation functions, providing more evidence for patients' clinical diagnosis and treatment. Such a breakthrough requires the joint efforts of the R & D team and the top neurosurgery team. The rich experience of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in the field of invasive brain - computer interfaces provides an irreplaceable clinical verification scenario for our innovative technology."

At the same time, Zhejiang has formed a modern industrial system with its own characteristics. Relying on its leading position in the national digital economy output value, Zhejiang is vigorously promoting the in - depth integration of brain - computer interface technology and the digital economy.

The first national brain - machine intelligence industrial park in China - Xitou Qizhen Brain - Machine Intelligence Industrialization Base, jointly built by the Science and Technology Park of Zhejiang University and the Management Committee of Future Science and Technology City, is an important manifestation of this integrated development. Centered on the industrialization of brain - machine intelligence, this base covers multiple interdisciplinary fields such as brain - machine + life sciences, brain - machine + AI, brain - machine + new - generation information technology, and brain - machine + intelligent manufacturing, fully demonstrating distinct regional characteristics.

Wuhan's first - mover advantage is more reflected in policy and industrial agglomeration effects.

The "Implementation Plan for Promoting the Innovative Development of Future Industries in Wuhan" has included brain - computer interfaces in the 13 key development directions of future industries. Hubei is also the first region in China to announce the medical service price for brain - computer interfaces, taking the lead in promoting this cutting - edge technology into the field of people's livelihood applications. This is mainly due to the high - level attention and forward - looking layout of the provincial leadership team for the brain - computer interface industry. Through top - level design, it provides a clear direction for industrial development, thus effectively promoting the implementation of relevant policies and industrial agglomeration effects.

Relying on the Wuhan Optics Valley Brain Science Industrial Base, Wuhan has formed an upstream and downstream industrial cluster covering electrode devices, equipment R & D, etc., achieving coordinated development of the industrial chain. At the same time, universities and research institutions such as Wuhan University, Huazhong University of，Science and Technology, and the Institute of Precision Measurement Science and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have jointly established joint laboratories with enterprises, accelerating the transformation of brain - computer interface technology achievements through in - depth integration of "industry - university - research - application" and further strengthening regional innovation momentum.

Zhonghua Brain - Machine, a local high - tech enterprise in Hubei, once publicly stated, "Wuhan has rich scientific research and medical resources. Our company has exchanges and cooperation with Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, and Union Hospital. We can develop brain - computer interface chips faster and better."

03

Active Cross - Regional Collaboration across the Country to Revitalize the Brain - Computer Interface Ecosystem

Overall, leading regions such as Beijing and Shanghai have formed relatively complete industrial ecosystems. For regions still in development, breaking geographical limitations and strengthening cross - regional collaboration have become important directions.

Many enterprises have begun to break geographical barriers and carry out cross - regional layouts: Shanghai Brain Tiger Medical is building a super factory in Chengdu; Shanghai Shao Brain Technology has set up a branch in Xi'an integrating R &