NeuroXess BCI trials advance with government backing

Chinese company NeuroXess is accelerating its move toward clinical trials of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), aiming to close the gap with American rival Neuralink and potentially take the lead. According to the Financial Times, a combination of government backing and strong investor interest has enabled the Shanghai-based startup, founded in 2021, to progress rapidly from lab development to initial successful human surgeries.

BCI development in China is unfolding within a large-scale government program launched less than a year ago. The initiative features accelerated project approvals, streamlined regulations, and centralized funding. Already, around ten invasive clinical trial programs are active in the country. By 2030, authorities aim to establish several world leaders in neurointerface technology, with NeuroXess seen as a potential contender.

The company has reported trial results where a paralyzed patient was able to control a computer cursor using an implanted device just five days after surgery. NeuroXess's technology is invasive but differs from Neuralink's approach. The Chinese implant consists of a polymer-metal mesh placed on the brain's surface without penetrating tissue. In contrast, Neuralink uses ultra-thin electrodes inserted directly into brain tissue, a method that has sparked debates over potential scarring and signal degradation over time.

Current Neuralink trials achieve signal transmission speeds of about 10 bits per second, while NeuroXess demonstrates around 5.2 bits per second. Despite this performance gap, experts note that both sides are ramping up research efforts, and accumulated knowledge could accelerate the development of non-invasive solutions, potentially reducing the need for surgical intervention in the future.

Analysts suggest China may develop a self-reinforcing cycle of rapid progress: expanding trials lead to increased data volume, lower costs, and more patient participation, which in turn speeds technological refinement. Against the backdrop of global BCI competition, the coming years could prove decisive in shaping leadership between the U.S. and China.