Beijing’s Five-Year Innovation Report Card: Brain-Computer Interface Enters Fast Track, “Beinao No. 1” Moves from Lab to Clinic

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Beijing has continued to strengthen national strategic scientific and technological capabilities and advance breakthroughs in core technologies. A number of frontier outcomes aimed at protecting people’s life and health are emerging at a faster pace. As one of the key directions, brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is moving from scientific exploration toward real-world applications, bringing new hope to patients and serving as a vivid example of the improved effectiveness of the capital’s science and technology innovation system.

I. 221 days of progress: first “Beinao No. 1” implant recipient achieves phased rehabilitation

On Dec. 1, 2025, at the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation of Beijing Xiaotangshan Hospital, the first recipient of the “Beinao No. 1” BCI implant, Xiaorui (pseudonym), attended a farewell ceremony marking a major rehabilitation milestone.

Following a car accident, Xiaorui had been assessed as facing paralysis that would be difficult to reverse. With breakthroughs in “Beinao No. 1” BCI technology, Xiaorui, as the world’s first trial participant, not only regained the ability to perform daily actions such as drinking water and eating through “mind-controlled” operation, but also completed a marked transition within months from severe functional limitation to autonomous control.

This encouraging progress shows that in Beijing, BCI is no longer a laboratory “novelty,” but is moving toward broader real-world use.

II. Parallel advances in two intelligent BCI systems: “Beinao No. 1” and “Beinao No. 2” reach world-leading level

According to Luo Minmin, Director of the Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, two intelligent BCI systems jointly developed by the institute and **NeuCyber NeuroTech (Beijing) Co., Ltd.**—the semi-invasive “Beinao No. 1” and the invasive “Beinao No. 2”—have both reached a world-leading level.

Looking ahead, Luo said exploration of BCI systems will continue to deepen. Over the next decade, BCI systems featuring smaller electrodes, stronger computing power and lower energy consumption will be deeply coupled with artificial intelligence, driving technological iteration and expanded applications to benefit large numbers of patients.

III. Systematic push in core technology breakthroughs: Beijing accelerates first-mover advantages in BCI

Focusing on BCI as a frontier interdisciplinary field, Beijing has continued to strengthen breakthroughs in key technologies. The city established the Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, set up municipal key laboratories in the BCI field, and advanced organized research on critical links including electrodes, chips, and encoding/decoding algorithms. More than 50 BCI innovation enterprises have been brought together, forming a diversified R&D landscape covering invasive products, non-invasive products, and assistive devices.

At the same time, Beijing is building a BCI industrial cluster in Zhongguancun Life Science Park. A 240,000-square-meter specialized industrial park for brain science and BCI has been launched. A dedicated BCI incubation fund of 300 million yuan has been set up, and preparations are underway for the Zhongguancun BCI Industry Innovation Association. These measures are promoting coordinated integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and talent chain, further highlighting the capital’s first-mover advantage in the global BCI race.

From the phased progress of the first “Beinao No. 1” implant case, to coordinated breakthroughs in both “Beinao No. 1” and “Beinao No. 2,” and to the rapid formation of industrial clusters and an innovation ecosystem, the Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing will continue to focus on core technology breakthroughs and clinical translation. It will support more innovations in moving from laboratories into real-world settings, contribute scientific and technological strength to protecting public health, and serve Beijing’s high-standard efforts to build an international science and technology innovation center.