China's NEO Brain Chip Implant Marks First Commercial Invasive BCI Approval

The global brain‑computer interface (BCI) chips market was valued at about USD 92.2 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach roughly USD 442.6 million by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 19.7%. North America currently leads the market, driven by demand for high‑performance neural‑signal processing chips that enable real‑time brain‑signal decoding for assistive communication, prosthetic control and neurorehabilitation.

In a parallel development, China has become the first country to receive commercial approval for an invasive BCI device. The NEO brain chip was successfully implanted in a patient with a long‑term spinal‑cord injury, allowing the user to operate a robotic glove via thought alone. The achievement positions China at the forefront of BCI commercialization, intensifying competition with U.S. firms such as Neuralink.