China’s First MRI-BCI Summit Launches uMR ShenGuan Solution and Industry Alliance
China’s first National MRI-BCI Summit convened in Tianjin city on August 23, 2026, bringing together academic, clinical, and industry experts to advance Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology development, clinical translation, and ecosystem building. The event was jointly organized by Tianjin University, the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration, and United Imaging.
At the summit, United Imaging launched uMR ShenGuan, the world’s first full-stack MRI-specific solution designed for BCI research and clinical translation. Built on United Imaging’s uMR platform, the solution addresses the core challenges of the BCI “read-write-validate” loop. It establishes a comprehensive technology system spanning high spatiotemporal resolution MRI, hardware adaptation optimization, a magnetic-compatible BCI toolbox, and new paradigms for MRI-guided neuromodulation. The solution is designed to support the entire translational pathway from fundamental research to clinical application, advancing the goal of decoding brain signals, enabling precise modulation, and making neuroplasticity measurable and controllable.
The summit also marked the official launch of the MRI-BCI Innovation Alliance, co-founded by Tianjin University and United Imaging. The alliance brings together academic institutions including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT), and the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology; leading hospitals including Xuanwu Hospital, Tiantan Hospital, West China Hospital, and Huanhu Hospital; industry partners including Xiangyu Medical and Kunmai Medical; and regulatory bodies including multiple medical device testing centers. The alliance aims to bridge research, clinical practice, regulation, and industry to accelerate innovation and translation in MRI-BCI technology.
United Imaging has established a strong foundation in brain research through previous collaborations, including a PET/MR platform for disorders of consciousness research with Hangzhou Normal University and the Steven Laureys team; a comprehensive brain-computer interface operating room with Tongji Hospital; the Chinese Brain Atlas Platform with Zhangjiang Laboratory; and support for national primate research facilities and child brain development cohort studies. These initiatives position the company to contribute to the alliance’s mission of advancing brain science and BCI technology from laboratory discovery to clinical impact.
