The inaugural ceremony of the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Research Institute at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) was held on Jan 25 at the Wutongyu Academic Exchange Center’s Mingde Lecture Hall.

The event was attended by Academician Zheng Hairong, Vice President of Nanjing University; Xia Song, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of Hubei Province; Shen Yue, Member of the Standing Committee of Wuhan Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China or OVC); and Dong Danhong, Director of the Wuhan science and technology innovation bureau. HUST President You Zheng delivered a speech, and Vice President Gao Liang announced the institute's formal establishment.

In his speech, President You emphasized that BCI technology is a cutting-edge field that reflects a nation's technological strength and comprehensive power. By integrating its strengths across disciplines, HUST has established this research institute to create a world-class BCI innovation platform through the full-chain layout in science, technology, engineering, clinical application and governance sectors, addressing national strategic needs, and empowering regional development.

Shen, on behalf of the Party Working Committee and Administrative Committee of OVC, congratulated the research institute’s establishment. He hoped the institute would utilize HUST's disciplinary strengths and integrate the industrial resources of OVC to drive further breakthroughs in talent cultivation and core technological research, playing a key role in helping OVC build a domestically leading and internationally renowned BCI innovation ecosystem.

Xia expressed hope that the institute would pursue innovation, producing original achievements representative of China. He emphasized the need to strengthen the translation of research outcomes to accelerate the transition of technologies from the laboratory to clinical and industrial applications. Xia also called for cultivating top-tier talent, building a globally competitive team, and deepening collaboration by integrating into the global innovation network.

Vice President Gao announced the Decision on Establishing the BCI Research Institute of HUST. The institute will be affiliated with the Research Development Office, led by Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, and built in collaboration with 31 internal units, including Union Hospital, the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, and the School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation. Tang Zhouping will serve as the dean of the institute.

The institute’s launch ceremony was held alongside the appointment ceremony for the academic committee experts, at which leaders and guests jointly unveiled the institute's plaque and presented appointment letters to representatives of the institute's academic committee.

Tang said the institute will focus on building a full chain from brain to products, striving to be a guardian of clinical value, a promoter of collaboration, and an advocate for innovation.

Zheng delivered a lecture titled "BCI and Biological Intelligence" after the inauguration ceremony, offering an in-depth dissection of the field's cutting-edge developments and trends to guide the institute's research development.

Source: Research Development Office of HUST