Ybrain CEO represents Korea at international brain-computer symposium in Sydney

Ybrain, a Korean neuroengineering solutions company, said Thursday that its CEO, Lee Ki-won, represented the country at the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) symposium hosted by the ISO/IEC JTC1/SC43 committee.

The event, which runs from Monday to Friday this week in Sydney, Australia, is part of ongoing international efforts to standardize BCI technologies. 

The International BCI Standardization Committee, established in March 2022, brings together experts from around the world to discuss and develop standards for brain-computer communication. 

Lee, who has served as Korea’s representative to the committee since 2022, delivered the opening address on Thursday. His presentation focused on the progress of BCI technologies in Korea, with an emphasis on regulatory and commercialization efforts.

BCI, which enables computers to be controlled by brainwave activity,  is attracting global interest for its clinical uses. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is teaching bilingual skills to patients with brain implants. In August, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that a 40-year-old ALS patient at the University of California achieved 99.6 percent accuracy in turning brain signals into speech with a BCI device.

Lee highlighted the development of non-invasive BCIs for neuropsychiatric treatments and BCIs—both invasive and noninvasive—for controlling assistive devices. He showcased Ybrain's electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement device, MINDD SCAN, and its noninvasive depression treatment, MINDD STIM, as successful examples of commercialized BCI products.

MINDD SCAN, used to gather biosignals for diagnostic assistance, is covered by Korea’s national insurance system. MINDD STIM, though not reimbursable, has been widely prescribed in hospitals.

In addition, Lee discussed Ybrain's ongoing collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company to develop BCI technology for controlling electric wheelchairs and robots aimed at assisting disabled individuals with mobility.

“This symposium has highlighted the rapid advancements in BCI technology globally, and it has been encouraging to see the growth of Korea's technological capabilities,” Lee said. He further expressed optimism about the future of BCI technologies, particularly their potential in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment and their application in aiding mobility for disabled individuals.