A brain-computer interface startup backed by Beijing has admitted it is about three years behind Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
This rare admission sheds light on how China’s state-supported neurotechnology efforts compare to the well-known U.S. company.
Li Yuan, NeuCyber Neurotech’s rotating CEO, said at a media briefing in Beijing that their most advanced implant is still behind Neuralink’s progress in human use.
NeuCyber says Neuralink’s lead is built on human trials
According to Reuters, Li said NeuCyber uses Neuralink as the benchmark for its invasive Beinao-2 system and admitted there is “about three years’ lag” because Musk’s company already has over 20 patients using it.
Neuralink had 21 people enrolled in human clinical trials worldwide as of January, showing its clear lead in real-world use.
Meyka’s summary also noted that the Chinese company remains about three years behind Neuralink in development timelines, pointing to earlier clinical testing and faster commercialization in the U.S.
This gap matters because progress in brain-computer interfaces depends not just on designing prototypes, but also on how quickly companies complete animal studies, early trials, and larger human tests.
Reuters quoted Li saying NeuCyber has just finished the first product and still needs to complete animal testing, early clinical trials, and “then the real trials,” showing that NeuCyber is still at an earlier stage than Neuralink.
China is moving quickly, but its frontier implant is still in animal testing
NeuCyber’s newest product, Beinao-2, is an invasive brain-computer interface that uses flexible electrodes implanted in the brain.
It is now in large-scale animal implantation, and the implant is still in animal testing with human trials possibly starting within two years. China’s most ambitious Neuralink-style project is making progress, but has not yet reached human clinical use.
The company’s earlier product, Beinao-1, is more advanced. NeuCyber has implanted this semi-invasive system in seven people.
The device places a mesh with electrodes on the brain’s outer membrane. Some patients, including quadriplegic car accident survivors, reported better hand movement and could control computer cursors after six months.
Earlier semi-invasive versions have already been implanted in seven patients and those users improved in motor recovery and computer interaction abilities.
Beijing is treating brain chips as a strategic industry
This disclosure also highlights how seriously China views the sector.
Beijing made brain-computer interfaces a core future strategic industry in its latest five-year plan, grouping them with quantum technology, embodied AI, and nuclear fusion.
The field a national priority supported by state funding and research institutions, and said the company has received about 200 million yuan, or $29 million, in government support.
China has also acted faster than many expected on regulation. China was the first country to approve an invasive BCI medical device for commercial use last week, though it was not NeuCyber’s product.
The approved device, made by Shanghai-based Neuracle, sits on the brain’s outer membrane and controls a robotic glove for people with spinal cord injuries.
The race is no longer theoretical
NeuCyber plans to expand Beinao-1 clinical trials to 50 patients this year.
This an important step toward getting regulatory approval for commercial use. The company wants to widen trials to 50 people soon. This shows that the Chinese project is moving beyond the lab and into broader patient testing, even though it still lags behind Neuralink in fully invasive systems.
Right now, Beijing’s message is one of ambition but also realism. China’s state-backed BCI sector is growing quickly, NeuCyber has already implanted devices in people, and regulators are starting to allow commercialization.
Still, by its own admission, China’s most advanced Neuralink-style program is not yet on par with its U.S. counterpart.
