Science ministry launches BCI alliance to commercialize brain tech by 2035

The science ministry on Wednesday launched the BCI Alliance, a public-private consultative body designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of brain-computer interface technology in South Korea.

More than 100 experts from universities, research institutes, companies and hospitals attended the launch ceremony at The Plaza Maple Hall in Seoul.

Bae Kyung-hoon, deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, and Baek Nam-jong, president of the Korea BCI Association, were appointed as co-chairs. The alliance will operate three subcommittees focused on research and development, business promotion and infrastructure building.

The government has included BCI in its major investment projects, setting a roadmap to complete technical verification by 2029, begin clinical trials and achieve full product commercialization by 2035.

To support these goals, a Brain Link Initiative project group scheduled to launch next year will back the verification and commercialization of BCI products for patients with quadriplegia and brain diseases.

"We expect that universities, research institutes, medical institutions and companies participating in the BCI Alliance will put their heads together to overcome various problems encountered in the BCI development process," Bae said.

He added that the government would listen to field opinions and spare no effort in providing policy and institutional support.