Introduction:
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology bridges biomedicine and artificial intelligence, and is undoubtedly one of the most forward-looking technologies with immense future potential. Last weekend, Elon Musk’s Neuralink successfully completed two BCI implantation surgeries within 24 hours for the first time. Not long before that, Huashan Hospital in Shanghai successfully carried out China’s first prospective clinical trial of an invasive brain-computer interface. The U.S.–China tech rivalry has added yet another silent battleground.
1. Clinical Research: A U.S.–China Technology Race
Neuralink Accelerates Forward
Elon Musk’s company Neuralink recently announced that its medical team had, for the first time, successfully completed two BCI implantation surgeries (subject IDs P8 and P9) within a 24-hour window over the past weekend. Both patients reportedly recovered well post-surgery, and their mental states remained stable.
Neurosurgery experts believe that performing two surgeries in a single day demonstrates that brain-computer interface technology has moved from a “lab miracle” to a replicable medical procedure, laying the groundwork for future large-scale clinical applications.
Neuralink also disclosed its technical roadmap and clinical plans. Musk proposed that Neuralink aims to enhance human cognitive capabilities through brain-computer interfaces, achieving “human-machine symbiosis” to ultimately address the risk of AI surpassing human intelligence.
China’s BCI Teams Close Behind
In June of this year, the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in partnership with Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and relevant enterprises, successfully carried out China’s first prospective clinical trial of an invasive BCI. Although China’s efforts began later than Neuralink’s, Chinese scientists have demonstrated strong competitive capabilities that rival their U.S. counterparts:
- World’s smallest electrodes: cross-sectional area is only 1/5 to 1/7 that of Neuralink’s, with over 100 times more flexibility, greatly reducing the risk of brain tissue damage.
- Minimally invasive implants: diameter of 26mm (about the size of a coin), requiring only a 5mm micro-hole in the skull rather than full penetration, with significantly lower surgical risk than Neuralink.
Meanwhile, BCI technology in China is rapidly diversifying:
- Tsinghua University and Xuanwu Hospital jointly developed a high-precision implanted BCI system that enabled the world’s first case of a high-level paraplegic patient controlling a robotic arm for precise handwriting tasks.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University has begun attempting to use BCI devices for the treatment of severe depression and epilepsy.
- The Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has achieved bidirectional communication with the motor cortex of macaque monkeys: decoding motor intention to control robotic arms while simultaneously injecting tactile feedback signals into the somatosensory cortex, establishing a two-way read-write channel.
2. Pricing Strategy: Market Autonomy or Government Guidance?
Neuralink Aims to Cut Costs via Scale
Musk has proposed a “600-second surgery” plan. According to his vision, surgeries will be automated. During the operation, patients would simply sit in a chair while a robot performs the procedure, completing the implant within 10 minutes.
Musk mentioned:
The price of a brain-computer interface ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 (approx. KRW 6.9 million to KRW 13.8 million);
If mass production is achieved, the cost of these implants could become comparable to that of an Apple Watch or smartphone, approximately $1,000 to $2,000 (approx. KRW 1.4 million to KRW 2.8 million);
Including surgical fees and device costs, the total cost may eventually be around $5,000, similar to the cost of LASIK eye surgery.
Neuralink forecasts that the number of electrodes implanted will reach 2,000 units in 2026, 10,000 in 2027, and 25,000 in 2028, indicating an explosive growth trajectory.
China’s Government Lays Groundwork in Advance
In March 2025, the National Healthcare Security Administration issued the “Guide for Project Approval of Neurological Medical Service Pricing Items (Trial)”, in which brain-computer interface technologies were proactively designated as a standalone forward-looking category, helping to accelerate commercialization.
BCI technologies are mainly divided into non-invasive and invasive types.
For non-invasive BCI, where devices require constant adjustment, the guide added a new pricing item titled “non-invasive BCI adaptation fee.”
For invasive BCI, the guide established dedicated pricing items such as “invasive BCI implantation fee” and “invasive BCI removal fee.”
This means that once the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) completes product registration approvals for BCI-related devices, a standardized billing path will be ready for clinical use. Once each local authority adopts the guide, medical billing for BCI procedures will have clear policy basis.
On March 31, Hubei Provincial Healthcare Security Bureau published China’s first set of BCI-related medical service prices:
- Invasive BCI implantation fee: 6,552 RMB per procedure (approx. USD 904 / KRW 1.24 million)
- Invasive BCI removal fee: 3,139 RMB per procedure (approx. USD 433 / KRW 597,000)
- Non-invasive BCI adaptation fee: 966 RMB per session (approx. USD 133 / KRW 183,000)
Governments in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other regions are also setting up dedicated funds to integrate research, healthcare, and industrial resources, accelerating the maturity and clinical adoption of BCI technologies.
Conclusion
Brain-computer interface is undoubtedly a strategic technology that symbolizes the future. It has become a vital front in the U.S.–China tech war.
This competition is not only about technologies and products—but also a contest between regulatory systems and institutional frameworks.
[Disclaimer]: The above content reflects analysis of publicly available information, expert insights, and BCC research. It does not constitute investment advice. BCC is not responsible for any losses resulting from reliance on the views expressed herein. Investors should exercise caution.