- The province targets 5 billion yuan in brain-computer interface revenue by 2027
- New policy links research, clinical applications and financing to accelerate commercialization
Zhejiang province has unveiled 18 measures to accelerate the development and commercialization of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, setting a target of more than 5 billion yuan ($740 million) in industry revenue by 2027.
The measures, released by the provincial government on August 12, cover four areas: strengthening technological development, improving technology transfer, accelerating applications and building an industrial ecosystem.
The province aims to substantially strengthen its independent capabilities in core BCI hardware and software by 2027, develop at least five flagship products and achieve early-stage validation and deployment.
By 2030, Zhejiang aims to establish a BCI technology and industrial innovation hub with strong international competitiveness.
The policy also targets one of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks: turning promising technologies into approved products.
For BCI products entering China’s special review program for innovative medical devices, Zhejiang will provide dedicated regulatory guidance. The review period for Class II medical devices will be shortened to no more than 40 working days.
Fast-tracking clinical use
Products deemed urgently needed for clinical use will also receive priority testing through a dedicated fast-track channel.
Financial support is another major component. Zhejiang plans to introduce specialized financing products including “proof-of-concept loans,” “pilot-production loans” and “technology commercialization loans.”
The province will also encourage qualified BCI companies to pursue appropriate listing channels and guide private capital toward early-stage, smaller and long-term investments in hard technology.
The policy builds on an emerging BCI ecosystem in Zhejiang. As of 2025, the province had 1,058 valid invention patents related to BCI technology, with Hangzhou accounting for more than 90% and ranking among China’s leading cities in the field.
Companies including BrainCo (强脑科技), RoboCT (程天科技), GenLight Medical (佳量医疗) and Nurotron (诺尔康) have already emerged from the local ecosystem. Major BCI companies in Zhejiang generated more than 2 billion yuan in combined revenue in 2025.
The province is also building clinical infrastructure. Eight government departments, including the provincial health authority, have launched a pilot program for BCI medical applications, selecting six hospitals across Zhejiang for trials.
Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital have already begun related clinical research.
Why it matters globally
Zhejiang’s approach reflects a broader shift in China’s BCI industry—from a technology concept attracting research and investment interest toward a sector supported by coordinated industrial policy and commercial demand.
McKinsey estimates that the global medical BCI market could reach $40 billion by 2030 and exceed $145 billion by 2040.
Zhejiang is attempting to build a full commercialization pipeline: government-backed application lists and procurement can create initial demand; accelerated regulatory review can shorten the path to market; and specialized financing can support companies from proof of concept through commercialization and potentially an IPO.
For the global BCI industry, Zhejiang offers an example of how a Chinese local government is attempting to connect research, industry, clinical applications and capital markets around an emerging technology—turning what was once primarily a laboratory pursuit into an industrial development strategy.
