This article is compiled by Semiconductor Industry Review (ID: ICVIEWS)

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is one of the most promising directions for new productivity development.

According to the National Intellectual Property Administration of China's website, on October 1, a patent titled "Method for Controlling a Stimulator, Stimulator, Brain-Computer Interface System, and Chip" was published on the website. The patent inventor is Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. This patent provides a method for controlling a stimulator, a stimulator, a brain-computer interface system, and a chip.

Source: Huawei Patent Specification

The embodiment of this disclosure provides a method for controlling a stimulator, a stimulator, a brain-computer interface system, and a chip. The method comprises: acquiring the voltage of an electrode coupled to the stimulator; comparing the acquired electrode voltage with a first threshold voltage during periods when the stimulator is not applying electrical pulses to the electrode; if the magnitude of the electrode voltage is not less than the magnitude of the first threshold voltage, generating a first control signal to control the drive circuit of the stimulator to apply at least one electrical pulse to the electrode, where the charge polarity of the at least one electrical pulse is opposite to the charge polarity indicated by the electrode voltage; and after applying the at least one electrical pulse, generating a second control signal to connect the electrode to a reference potential. The solution disclosed herein can effectively improve the safety of the stimulator.

In June 2023, Huawei announced a patent titled "A Brain-Computer Interface Device and Information Acquisition Method." In September of this year, Huawei signed a strategic cooperation agreement with ChinaSoft International Education & Technology Group and Zhejiang BrainCo Technology Co., Ltd. in the field of neural electrical signal AI innovation and training centers, aiming to foster talent in the BCI industry and collaborate comprehensively in scientific and technological innovation research.

The market size of brain-computer interfaces is projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2030

According to recent reports, the global market size for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) was approximately $1.74 billion in 2022 and is expected to soar to $6.2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.5%.

BCI is a system that receives brain signals, analyzes them, and converts them into commands for other devices. Although the full scope of future BCI applications is not yet clear, understanding current trends is crucial for identifying the future direction, innovation, and growth areas of this technology, as well as potential cybersecurity risks and threats.

Thanks to significant R&D investments and a robust innovation ecosystem, the United States clearly dominates in this field. Europe has also made notable contributions, primarily from Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Additionally, emerging countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa are actively involved in the BCI sector.

In popular culture, cyborgs (also known as "half-robots") and BCIs have been highly anticipated concepts, as seen in the 1987 film "RoboCop." Today, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and signal processing technology have brought BCI applications closer to reality, far from the realm of robot domination.

The timeline of BCI development shows that many companies initially focused on BCI research and medical applications, but as technology progressed, the scope of BCI applications has expanded beyond healthcare.

How BCI Applications Work

BCI applications convert brain activity into control signals for devices and stimulate the brain through sensory feedback, as illustrated in the figure.

Brain Signal Acquisition: Capture brain signals using invasive (implants) or non-invasive methods.

Signal Processing: Clean raw signals to remove noise and extract meaningful features.

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning: Utilize processed signal patterns to issue control commands, often with the aid of machine learning techniques.

Sensory Feedback: Control commands affect devices or environments, providing feedback to users. Sensors monitor changes and transmit feedback directly to the brain through stimulation.

On October 14, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce measures to strengthen support for enterprises. Wang Jiangping, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, attended the conference and answered questions from reporters.

In response to a question about "unicorn companies," Wang Jiangping stated that in recent years, the number of unicorn companies in China has continued to grow, with significant improvements in their comprehensive capabilities, resulting in the emergence of a number of super unicorn companies. Unicorn companies from high-end manufacturing, consumer and retail, and high-tech sectors account for more than 78% of the total. More than half of the new unicorn companies last year came from hard tech sectors such as new energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

Wang Jiangping emphasized that the growth of unicorn companies requires both the technological strength of the companies themselves and a favorable development environment. Going forward, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will take the following measures to promote the development of unicorn companies in China: First, establish a nationwide, unified unicorn company nurturing system with provincial and ministerial coordination; second, support unicorn companies in technological innovation, encouraging and guiding them to conduct technological breakthroughs in line with national strategic needs and acquire more proprietary technologies; third, increase financial support for unicorn companies, leveraging industry-finance cooperation platforms to support their IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings; fourth, make forward-looking plans for future industries, focusing on emerging sectors such as atomic-scale manufacturing, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G to foster the growth of unicorn companies; and fifth, support unicorn companies in integrating into the global innovation network and engaging in innovative collaborations.

CITIC Securities believes that brain-computer interfaces are one of the most promising directions for new productivity development. Both domestic and international BCI enterprises are actively promoting the commercialization of BCIs in various fields such as healthcare, industry, and entertainment. Domestic policies attach great importance to the development of the BCI industry, coordinating efforts to promote the application and transformation of BCIs. Companies are committed to breaking foreign technology monopolies and building independently controllable, full-industry solutions.

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