On July 2, an innovation alliance focused on brain-computer interface (BCI) technology in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) was officially established in Guangdong Province.
The alliance's inaugural membership comprises 124 organizations, covering critical segments of the entire industrial chain, including fundamental research, core components, algorithm software, system integration, clinical applications, and technology finance.
According to the Action Plan for Coordinated Development of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Technology and Industry in Guangdong Province (2026–2030), the province will add 100 new BCI technology enterprises, establish 200 BCI-equipped hospital wards in the medical sector, and provide cumulative services to over 500,000 patients by 2030.
The core BCI industry is targeted to reach a scale of tens of billions of yuan, with ripple effects driving upstream and downstream industries to a scale of hundreds of billions of yuan.
The plan also calls for stronger efforts to attract top global talent, improve visa facilitation and cross-border mobility policies for foreign professionals, promote international mutual recognition of BCI technologies, standards, and clinical data, and advance the establishment of international science and technology organizations.
"Leveraging the GBA's complete electronic information industry chain and abundant clinical resources, the alliance will integrate upstream and downstream enterprises, hospitals, universities, research institutes, and financial institutions from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. It will help break down barriers between industry, academia, research, and medical applications and accelerate BCI industry clustering," said Wu Yueqian, Deputy Director of the Electronic Information Industry Division at the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province.
The event also featured the centralized release of several landmark innovations, with multiple China-first invasive BCI clinical applications developed by Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University drawing particular attention.
"In September 2025, we completed South China's first implantable BCI surgery for epilepsy treatment. Since then, we have performed multiple first-of-their-kind procedures for conditions such as high-level spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease, placing us at the forefront in South China," said a professor from the hospital's Department of Functional Neurosurgery.
Additionally, WE-LINKING unveiled the world's first customizable clinical-research-grade implantable BCI platform and LYCHEE INTELLIGENCE released the nation's first mind-controlled, AR-integrated BCI exoskeleton robot for cross-scenario use.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Photo | Nanfang Plus
