The Korea BCI Association, a newly established South Korean industry body bringing together companies, healthcare institutions, and academic organisations across the brain-computer interface (BCI) sector, has held its inaugural general meeting in Seoul, formally adopting its founding declaration, approving its bylaws, electing executives, and endorsing its business plan and budget.

Korea Biomedical Review reported that the meeting was held at Centerfield in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where Paik Nam-jong, president of Seoul National University Hospital, was elected as the association's first chairman, and Kim Yong-jin, chair of the ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 41 international standardisation committee, was appointed vice chairman.

Founding corporate members include Ybrain, Dynamic Solution, Vivat Robotics and CERAGEM. Healthcare institutions involved include Seoul National University Hospital, Severance Hospital and Korea University Anam Hospital, while academic members include KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, Korea University, Catholic Kwandong University, Yonsei University, and Hanyang University. Additional companies including GBrain and Precision Neuroscience, as well as major corporations in the mobility, consumer electronics, and healthcare sectors, are considering membership.

The association's key initiatives will include developing BCI-related policies and regulatory reforms, promoting domestic and international standardisation, supporting collaborative research and development, building global cooperation networks, fostering specialised talent, facilitating technology commercialisation, and strengthening the broader BCI ecosystem.

Paik said: "BCI technology is a core innovation that will shape the future of healthcare and digital industries. We will do our utmost to ensure that the Korea BCI Association serves as a central platform for advancing Korea's BCI industry and enhancing its global competitiveness."

Vice chairman Kim emphasised the importance of international collaboration, saying: "Technological innovation alone is not enough for the advancement of the BCI industry. International standardisation and global cooperation are equally essential. We will actively support Korean companies and research institutions in securing leadership positions in global technology competition."

Lee Ki-won, CEO of Ybrain, said the launch of the association represents an important turning point for Korea's BCI industry, adding: "Building on Ybrain's regulatory expertise and brain-data technologies, we will work closely with association members to expand into global markets."

The association also plans to support the government's K-Moonshot Project, a national initiative aimed at advancing next-generation BCI technologies, positioning the body as a bridge between industry stakeholders and national policy objectives.

Get the full details of the Korea BCI Association's inaugural launch and strategic objectives.