SourceStalecollected in 13m

Active Tech raises 330M RMB in record BCI funding

Read original on 36氪
#bci#neuroscience#embodied-ai

Record-breaking funding in BCI signals a major shift in the intersection of neuroscience and embodied AI.

30-Second TL;DR

What Changed

Raised 330 million RMB in angel round

Why It Matters

This significant funding signals a major capital push into the Chinese BCI market, which is a critical frontier for embodied AI and neural interface research.

What To Do Next

Track the clinical trial progress of Active Tech to understand the state of invasive BCI hardware in the Chinese market.

Who should care:Researchers & Academics

Key Points

  • •Raised 330 million RMB in angel round
  • •Focus on invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology
  • •Funds allocated for clinical trials and team expansion

Deep Insight

AI-generated analysis for this event — not the original article.

Enhanced Key Takeaways

  • •Active Tech was founded by a team of neuroscientists and engineers from top-tier Chinese research institutions, specifically focusing on high-density neural signal acquisition.
  • •The company's proprietary technology utilizes a flexible electrode array designed to minimize glial scarring, a common challenge in long-term invasive BCI stability.
  • •This funding round was led by a consortium of specialized deep-tech venture capital firms, including several state-backed funds focused on the 'New Quality Productive Forces' initiative.
  • •Active Tech plans to utilize a portion of the capital to establish a GMP-compliant manufacturing facility to support upcoming human clinical trials.
  • •The company is developing a custom low-power ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) to handle on-chip signal processing, reducing the data transmission burden for the implant.

Competitor Analysis

Neuralink
Technology Type
Invasive
Key Advantage
High-bandwidth robotic insertion
Clinical Status
Human Trials
Synchron
Technology Type
Endovascular
Key Advantage
Minimally invasive (stent-based)
Clinical Status
Human Trials
NeuraMatrix
Technology Type
Invasive
Key Advantage
High-density neural recording
Clinical Status
Pre-clinical
BrainCo
Technology Type
Non-Invasive
Key Advantage
Consumer/Prosthetic focus
Clinical Status
Commercialized

Technical Deep Dive

  • Electrode Material: Utilizes biocompatible flexible polymer substrates to match the mechanical modulus of brain tissue.
  • Signal Processing: Implements on-chip spike sorting and data compression to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation.
  • Data Transmission: Employs ultra-low-power wireless telemetry for real-time brain-to-external device communication.
  • Insertion Method: Developing a robotic surgical platform to ensure precise placement of high-density arrays while minimizing vascular damage.

Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources

Active Tech will initiate first-in-human clinical trials within 18 months.
The scale of the angel funding and the stated focus on clinical trials suggest a rapid transition from pre-clinical validation to regulatory approval processes.
The company will pivot toward a closed-loop BCI system.
The development of on-chip signal processing indicates an intent to move beyond simple data recording to real-time neural stimulation and feedback.

Timeline

2025-06
Active Tech officially incorporated in China.
2026-01
Successful completion of long-term biocompatibility testing in animal models.
2026-08
Secured 330 million RMB in record-breaking angel funding round.

Weekly AI Recap

Read this week's curated digest of top AI events →

AI-curated news aggregator. All content rights belong to original publishers.
Original source: 36氪 ↗

This is a summary, not the original. Read the source, or get the weekly briefing.

The weekly digest

One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.