China Starts Trading Brain Chip, Market Reaches IDR 292 Trillion

The rapid development of brain-computer interface technology in China

China is accelerating the massive commercialization of brain-computer (BCI) interface technology across the country. The market projection of this innovation is estimated to reach around Rp. 292 trillion by 2040. Government policies and massive investment are the main factors in the acceleration of this industry.

The BCI industry in China is currently transitioning from the trial stage to the commercial realm. This is claimed to exceed global expectations, mainly through deep integration between neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI). The founder of the Startup Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Neuroxess and Gestala Phoenix Peng considered that these two sectors are important elements in future technological advances.

“Nerve integration and AI aims to realize direct high bandwidth connections between the human brain and machines via carbon and silicon-based intelligence bridges,” said Phoenix Peng in Shenzhen BCI & Human-Computer Interaction Expo.

According to data collected from media reports, the Chinese BCI market is projected to grow to more than 3.8 billion yuan, or around Rp. 9.25 trillion. This figure increased compared to the position of Rp7.79 trillion in the previous year. Long-term projections even estimate the market value will exceed Rp292 trillion by 2040.

The growth of the BCI industry in China is driven by four main pillars:

• national policy support: The central government provides strong support through the national road map targeting key technical achievements by 2027.
• full supply chain development: The Chinese government is targeting the construction of a full supply chain by 2030 to support small-scale specialist companies.
• Brain Science Fund: A total of 11.6 billion yuan or around Rp28.23 trillion has been allocated to support BCI companies. This financial support covers the entire business cycle, from research to product commercialization.
• Low research resources and costs: China has a strategic advantage in the availability of broad resources and lower research costs than Western countries.

In addition, the health insurance system also plays an important role in accelerating the commercialization of products that have obtained state approval. Several provinces such as Sichuan, Hubei, and Zhejiang have set medical services prices for BCI technology. This policy accelerates this technology into the health insurance system to facilitate access for patients.

In the investment sector, several major agreements have been made. One of them is Stairmed Technology, which received a funding of US$48 million in February 2025. In addition, the company Brainco has reportedly submitted an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in Hong Kong.

In the next five years, Chinese regulators plan to align BCI’s rules with international standards such as ISO and IEC. The main focus of regulation will be on data sovereignty and more stringent medical device approval procedures for invasive technology.