The brain-computer interface (BCI) sector is now shifting its focus towards building out the necessary supporting infrastructure.
On August 25th, the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology publicly solicited opinions on the draft of the National Brain-Computer Interface Industry Standard System Construction Guide (2026 Edition). According to the draft, the BCI standard system will cover seven major areas: basic commonalities, hardware, software and algorithms, data and communications, products and systems, industry applications, and safety and governance. The plan aims to formulate and revise over 40 relevant standards by 2028, and to develop a cumulative total of more than 80 standards by 2030.
As this technology transitions from the laboratory to human trials and even clinical application, the industry is entering a phase of systemic capability enhancement. One of the most immediate changes is the deeper integration of BCI with medical imaging equipment.
On August 23rd, Tianjin University and United Imaging Healthcare jointly released a full-stack solution for MRI-based brain-computer interfaces, dubbed the "uMR ShenGuan". This initiative aims to transform capabilities previously validated on research equipment into practical toolkits and comprehensive solutions. Over the past year, the collaborative efforts between United Imaging Healthcare and Tianjin University have focused on the magnetic compatibility of BCI devices, the adaptation of MRI systems for the BCI working environment, software and data integration, and the transition from animal research to human clinical scenarios. According to current plans, this solution will subsequently be adapted for use with select 3T and 5T MRI systems from United Imaging.
However, the precise manner in which BCI and MRI should collaborate further is still under exploration. Based on current applications, MRI is already being incorporated into BCI processes for navigation, procedural monitoring, and functional research. In scenarios that combine non-invasive BCI with neuromodulation, such as focused ultrasound, researchers must first identify the precise target brain region before external energy can be accurately directed to the correct location.
Yuan Jianmin, Director of the MRI Business Unit and Joint Innovation Department at United Imaging Healthcare, likens the role of MRI in this process to "BeiDou navigation": using structural imaging to identify target areas and providing real-time, precise location guidance during subsequent stimulation or regulatory therapy. Furthermore, as focused ultrasound may cause localized temperature increases, MRI can also monitor temperature to ensure it remains within a range that avoids damaging normal brain tissue while still producing the desired effect. In decoding research, functional MRI can capture changes in blood oxygen levels across different brain regions.
Fan Qiuyun, Vice Dean of the School of Medicine at Tianjin University, told a financial media outlet that subjects can lie inside an MRI scanner while wearing signal acquisition devices, simultaneously completing interactive tasks and recording brain activity changes. However, since MRI indirectly reflects neural activity through blood oxygen changes, these signals typically lag actual brain function by several seconds.
Imaging capabilities have also entered the research and clinical workflows of overseas BCI companies. A recent job posting by Neuralink for MRI and CT technicians reveals that its imaging facility in Texas is utilizing a Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Cima.X MRI system and a NAEOTOM Alpha photon-counting CT scanner. The associated work includes high-resolution anatomical imaging, functional MRI, and data collection for both clinical and preclinical research. Whether MRI can effectively advance the development of the BCI industry is now a topic of significant attention.