Neuracle, A Pioneer From China That Will Soon Find Brain Technology For Computers

A Chinese company, Neuracle, is enlivening the brain-to-computer interface technology that has been dominated by the US. (photo: unsplash)

JAKARTA – A Chinese start-up, Neuracle, has begun testing what it calls a "micro-invasive" brain-computer interface (BCI) in pigs. If successful then monkey is next. This makes the company one of China's leaders in new technologies that have a wide range of applications.

BCI is an important bioscience sector that can collect and analyze the electronic signals of the human brain. "Micro-invasive" BCI technology is a hybrid between invasive BCI - which implants a chip directly into the brain's cerebrospinal fluid surgically - and non-invasive BCI, which involves wearing a device that allows the user's brain activity to be recorded.

According to Ke Youwang, sales manager of Neuracle Technology Co., told the Global Times last weekend, micro-invasive BCI involves placing the chip just behind the skull and above the cerebrospinal fluid, which ensures safety and a longer effective period.

"The chips used in invasive BCI can only function for about one to two years, and are very risky to be reimplanted once they are removed. In contrast, surgery for 'micro-invasive' BCI technology will not cause any major damage to the human body. The risks involved comparable to implanting an artificial cochlea," said Ke.

He added that due to the poor electrical conductivity of the human skull, the signal sent by the "micro-invasive" BCI was also clearer and stronger than that of the non-invasive BCI.

Neuracle was founded in 2011 in Beijing and opened a new subsidiary in Shanghai's Pudong New Area in May. They aim to take advantage of the high-tech industrial chain and rich talent pool to accelerate technology cooperation and development.

The company works closely with medical and research institutes as well as universities to facilitate experimentation and launch of new technologies, which are considered as new pathways amid heated global competition for BCI, the next generation biotechnology in industry, aerospace and medicine, with a target market of trillions of rupiah.

The US Bureau of Industry and Security published a list of "new technologies" covered by export controls last year. BCI, along with 13 other technologies, is on the list.

China is currently leading the way in the development of non-invasive BCI. Meanwhile the US, represented by tech company Neuralink founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has taken the lead in invasive BCI, according to industry watchers.

In April, Fudan University revealed its first self-developed remote non-invasive BCI chip for animals, which it claims is only half the weight of a similar foreign product.