Brain-computer interface is going to be popular, Musk and MiHoYo are here!

An investor in the biomedical field told a reporter from the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily that the brain-computer interface has great prospects. In addition to the field of medical devices, the Metaverse is also an extension of the brain-computer interface.

Brain-computer interface is going to be popular! Recently, at the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, Zhao Zhiguo, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will strengthen the exploration of brain-computer interface application scenarios and improve the relationship with medical and health, consumer electronics, education, people's livelihood and other fields. Integrated application level.

Affected by this news, human brain engineering concept stocks continued to be active, with Guanhao Biology, Innovative Medical, and New Intelligence Cognition among the top gainers.

An investor in the biomedical field told a reporter from the "Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily" that

the brain-computer interface has great prospects. In addition to the field of medical devices, the Yuanverse is also an extension of the brain-computer interface. "The brain-computer interface connects the brain to the computer, allowing the computer to receive brain information, generate enough brain data, and ultimately generate AI."

▌Science fiction moves towards reality, brain-computer interface research moves forward

In the past, brain-computer interfaces have always existed in science fiction. Now, this science fiction is becoming reality.

In May of this year, Nankai University completed the interventional brain-computer interface non-human primate test, achieving a technological leap from passive collection of brain electrical signals to active control; in February of the same year, the brain-computer interface founded by Musk's partners Interface company, approved by FDA for patient trials using brain implants and surgical robots...

The national plan has clearly stated that "artificial intelligence" and "brain science" are important scientific and technological strategic areas, and are included in the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the 2035 long-term goals respectively.

The data available for inquiry shows that

As a cutting-edge technology, a total of 4 financing events occurred in the brain-computer interface track in 2023, including Yuanlai Technology, Rouling Technology, Weiling Medical, etc., in rounds Most of them are angel rounds; There will be 6 financing events in 2022, involving Naohu Technology, Brighton, Zhentai Intelligent and other companies, among which Naohu Technology is invested by Sequoia China twice a year.

In the secondary market, a reporter from the "Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily" found that a number of listed companies stated that they were establishing brain-computer interface projects. On May 6,

Sanbo Brain Department stated on the interactive platform that Sanbo Brain Department, as an academic medical institution integrating "medicine, teaching and research", is participating in the basic application and exploration of clinical applications.

On May 8th,

Jiahe Intelligence was interactive and easy to reply. The wholly-owned subsidiary Sipacon has invented a patented brain wave acquisition communication system, communication frame generation device and reading device. This patented technology An electroencephalogram headset using 12 channels of electroencephalogram sensors is used to control the mouse to move left, right, up, down, click, etc. when playing games.

May 23

Yingqu Technology stated that the cooperation with Tianjin University School of Medicine and Haihe Laboratory is currently in the early stage of project establishment and exchange, including artificial neural rehabilitation robots, brain-computer fatigue driving monitoring, digital brain Innovative projects such as electrographic machines...

A series of projects and financings show that brain-computer interfaces are no longer “cold” and are beginning to attract the attention of investment institutions and industries.

▌Medical care is the mainstream direction, and Yuanverse applications are also being explored

Where are brain-computer interfaces used? An investor told reporters that

Medical care and the Metaverse are the main applications of brain-computer interfaces.

Li Jia, an investor in the medical field of Lanxess Investment, said in an interview with a reporter from the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily that brain-computer interfaces have been hot for a while, and their applications are still being explored. "On the one hand, to realize brain-computer interface applications, we need enough development tools.

There is a huge demand for brain-computer interfaces in medicine, especially brain science development, including how to store human memory, the problem of human aging, and central nervous system diseases, etc. After research, we can understand the brain’s control and feedback on human aging, emotion, nerves, and spirit, and meet unmet clinical needs.”

On the other hand,

Brain-computer interface can train the brain, including helping children focus. "Harvard has been researching in the field of brain science for many years, and there are 10-20 companies in China. Now the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has stated that it regards brain-computer interface as an important direction to cultivate future industrial development and strengthens the exploration of brain-computer interface application scenarios. This is leading the industry to flourish. An important sign of development. Because the development of brain science is not a matter of one or two companies, it requires government funding and guidance."

From the perspective of financing events,

brain-computer interface companies in the medical device field have the most financing, accounting for 62%, but in fact the potential of this track is far more than that. Yuanlai Technology, which completed angel round financing in March this year, was exclusively invested by Lanchi Venture Capital. The reporter noticed that this is a human-computer interaction product platform company.

Lanchi Venture Capital believes that the next generation of human-computer interaction innovation technology has always been the focus of Lanchi. Relying on EXOM technologies such as neurofeedback mechanisms in brain science and rare alloy materials, some platform companies can realize different fields Application, including sleep, automobile, pan-entertainment, etc. LANXESS Investment Li Jia believes that Like VR glasses, the brain-computer interface can be used as a portal to link to the virtual space to achieve human-computer interaction in entertainment.

In terms of medical devices, Lanchi Venture Capital stated that the brain-computer interface is a complex and complex project involving neurobiology, psychology, physics, computing science, information science and other interdisciplinary subjects. From scientific innovation to engineering innovation, it is necessary to have the ability to cover it. Mastering the full-chain independent technology of minimally invasive implantable brain-computer interface is the core of investment.

▌The track has taken off, and many big names such as MiHoYo and Musk have already entered the venue

Faced with the trend of "brain-computer interface", in fact, the track has attracted many big names.

MiHoYo, which earned 20 billion from a "Genshin Impact" game, has been intensively appearing in the VC circle since last year, and has successively invested in brain-computer interfaces, controllable nuclear fusion, aerospace rockets and many other non-game-related projects. project.

In terms of brain-computer interface, miHoYo announced its investment in the Encephalopathy Center of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The content of the cooperation is mainly the development and clinical application of brain-computer interface technology, with miHoYo providing special funds. The two parties jointly established the "Ruijin Brain Disease Center MiHoYo Joint Laboratory" to jointly tackle key issues in the "Clinical Research on Brain-Computer Interface Neurotherapy for the Treatment of Refractory Depression" project.

Musk, who focuses on the research and development of black technology, Neuralink, a brain-computer interface startup founded by him, completed Series C financing in 2021, raising a total of US$205 million (approximately RMB 1.3 billion). Among the investors are VY Capital and Google Ventures. After completing the fundraising, the company has developed rapidly. Not only does it focus on treating brain diseases, Neuralink also allows monkeys to "play" table tennis. It has recently been approved by the FDA for experiments on humans.

Metaverse company Meta is also making efforts and released a brain-computer interface bracelet input device. Meta said, "By combining machine learning and neuroscience, future interfaces will be suitable for different people, while explaining their differences in physiology, body shape, etc. through a process of collaborative adaptive learning."

LANXESS Investment Li Jia believes that in the application field, brain-computer interface does have many applications, but tools are the key. "Brain-computer interface requires both signal acquisition and feedback information, while improving signal precision and accuracy, as well as adaptability and other issues. At present, non-invasive brain-computer interface collects the neuron production in the brain's motor cortex through sensors. A tiny electric current can be used to control the robotic arm with thoughts. As for the brain-computer interface with a wound, you need to consider whether the wound is infected and where to place it on the human body."

Lanchi Venture Capital believes that brain-computer integration technology is now in a very early stage of development. Once it breaks through, there will be huge market space. Lanchi Venture Capital remains highly concerned.

Source: Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily

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