Policy

Guangdong issued a provincial BCI action plan targeting 100 new tech companies, 200 BCI hospital wards and a ten-billion-yuan industry by 2030.

8 Chinese ministries jointly issued a policy document explicitly promoting the integration of AI with brain-computer interface, AR, VR, and MR technologies.

The General Office of China's Anhui Provincial People's Government issued the Action Plan for Accelerating Brain-Computer Interface Technology and Industry Development in Anhui (2026-2030) on June 15, 2026, document number Wan Zheng Ban Mi [2026] No. 24. Its spatial layout assigns Hefei the role of innovation origination and talent attraction, Bengbu the fabrication and validation of key components on the strength of its smart sensor industry plus a new Longhu Laboratory, and Wuhu clinical translation through a national regional medical centre and a brain science institute at Wannan Medical College. The first main task backs the University of Science and Technology of China in leading a research institute with Chinese Academy of Sciences partners. Targets fall in 2028 rather than 2027, covering at least ten application scenarios, three approved invasive clinical trials, five systems and three backbone firms.

The General Office of China's Tianjin Municipal People's Government issued the Action Plan for Promoting Innovative Development of Brain-Computer Interfaces in Tianjin (2026-2030), document number Jin Zheng Ban Fa [2026] No. 8, dated May 26, 2026 and released on May 28. All product targets sit on the non-invasive track, while invasive systems are covered only by milestones for entering registration trials and winning market approval. By 2027 Tianjin wants two to three national-level innovation platforms, more than five non-invasive products in clinical use, more than ten new products across elderly care, education, entertainment, smart living and advanced manufacturing, 50 innovative firms, one to two national standards, and three to five industry funds. By 2030 it targets more than ten non-invasive products in large-scale clinical use, market approval for invasive products, and a fund cluster exceeding 10 billion yuan.

On 31 March 2026 Hubei's provincial science and technology department approved the formation of a provincial brain-computer interface technology innovation centre, led by Tongji Hospital in Wuhan together with 12 organisations including Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Hubei Optics Valley Laboratory. Chinese reports describe it as the country's first provincial BCI platform positioned as comprehensive and full-chain. Its stated priorities are neural signal decoding, domestic sourcing of core components, and refining both non-invasive and implanted approaches. It is headed by Tang Zhouping, the hospital's party secretary.

Nine Jiangsu provincial departments in eastern China led by the Department of Industry and Information Technology issued the Action Plan for Innovative Development of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry in Jiangsu in March 2026, implementing national guidance from seven ministries. Its most distinctive provision covers industrial deployment, directing firms in hazardous materials, nuclear power, mining and electricity to pilot BCI systems in safety management and deep-sea and deep-pit operations, sectors no other provincial document names. Headline goals are at least two provincial clusters by 2027 and two to three leading enterprises by 2030. Its quantitative targets sit at the end of 14 tasks and all fall in 2030, including at least 15 programme projects, 15 key technology tasks, about 10 innovation platforms, 30 certified flagship products, 20 registered medical devices and a dataset of at least 20,000 samples.

Four Chinese ministries jointly issued science-technology insurance guidance, listing BCI alongside AI and quantum technology as key sectors for dedicated insurance products.

The General Office of China's Jiangxi Provincial People's Government issued Several Measures for Accelerating the Development of Brain-Computer Interface Technology and Industry in Jiangxi on November 26, 2025, document number Gan Fu Ting Fa [2025] No. 29, setting out 11 measures across four areas. It was the first provincial document to follow the seven-ministry national guidance and is the only one that sets no quantitative industry targets at all. Its eleventh measure calls for implementing BCI research ethics guidelines and establishing mutual recognition of clinical research ethics review, a first among provincial documents. Other measures deploy a provincial major science and technology programme, back Ganjiang New Area in building a rehabilitation centre and a high-quality EEG dataset, and offer early regulatory engagement plus rewards for Class II and Class III innovative device approvals.

Thirteen departments in China's Shandong province, led by the Department of Science and Technology, jointly issued the Action Plan for Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Brain-Computer Interface Industry in Shandong (2025-2027), document number Lu Ke Zi [2025] No. 50, dated May 13, 2025 and released on May 16. By 2027 the province aims for roughly 20 breakthroughs in frontier and core technologies, about 30 innovative technology SMEs, two to three high-level talent teams, and one to two specialised incubators in areas rich in research and education resources, with applications reaching medicine, industry, elderly care, education and entertainment. By 2030 it expects an initial BCI industry ecosystem. The plan organises work into six campaigns and backs Jinan and Qingdao as innovation clusters. It is the first of Shandong's two provincial BCI documents and covers the industrial side.

Eight Sichuan provincial departments in southwestern China led by the Department of Economy and Information Technology issued the Action Plan for Breakthroughs in the Brain-Computer Interface and Human-Machine Interaction Industry in Sichuan (2025-2030) on May 12, 2025. The plan is unusual in making surgical volume a headline metric, targeting 3,000 invasive BCI procedures a year by 2030, along with services for more than 100,000 patients a year with neurodegenerative disease, psychiatric conditions and drug or digital addiction, and rehabilitation device use exceeding 20,000 sessions a year. By 2027 it aims to complete development and medical device registration of three invasive and five non-invasive products, carry out the province's first invasive BCI operation, serve more than 50,000 patients a year, and cultivate 10 chain-leading firms, 100 specialised SMEs and 200 innovative smaller enterprises. Chengdu, Mianyang, Deyang and Nanchong are named as host cities.

Shanghai's science commission issued a BCI industry action plan centering on medical-grade scenarios, with a clinical timeline for invasive and semi-invasive products.

Three Beijing agencies jointly issued a BCI action plan targeting 3-5 globally influential leaders and around 100 innovative SMEs by 2030.