Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) has recently issued a series of measures to foster innovation in the brain-computer interface (BCI) industry. These measures focus on advancing technological breakthroughs, promoting the real-world application of technological achievements, expanding innovation entities, and building an innovative industrial ecosystem.

BCI technology acts as a "mind bridge", enabling patients to control computers or machines directly with their thoughts. This revolutionary technology allows paralyzed individuals to "walk", speech-impaired people to "speak", and the blind to "see".

China's BCI market was valued at 3.2 billion yuan ($449.18 million) in 2024 and is projected to reach 6.14 billion yuan by 2028. Thanks to its strong foundation in the optoelectronics industry and abundant clinical and research resources, Wuhan's BCI industry is rapidly taking shape.

OVC, in particular, has attracted a cluster of high-tech enterprises dedicated to BCI research and development. It has established a complete industrial chain encompassing electrode devices, equipment development, and clinical application, with continuous innovative breakthroughs.

In August, the Hubei BCI Industry Innovation and Development Alliance was established in OVC. This alliance brings together clinical resources, leading enterprises, and university research teams in an effort to accelerate the implementation of BCI innovations through joint laboratories, shared experimental platforms, and exchange activities.

OVC is now advancing the construction of a BCI industrial cluster. The International BCI Innovation Center, designed to serve as the cluster’s innovation hub, aims to provide comprehensive services ranging from concept validation and clinical trials to registration testing and industrial transformation.