Development of a Battery-Free Brain Neural System
"Supporting Treatment for Patients with Intractable Brain Diseases"
Kyungin Jang, Professor in the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at DGIST (President Lee Geonwoo), has been selected as the top achiever in the convergence field for the "2025 National R&D Excellence 100," hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, according to an announcement on December 24.
The "National R&D Excellence 100" is a program designed to widely publicize scientific and technological achievements that drive national development, increase public interest, and inspire pride among scientists and engineers. Each government ministry recommends outstanding achievements from national R&D projects, and the best are selected. This year, a total of 970 candidate achievements were evaluated by experts and underwent public verification, resulting in the final selection of 100 achievements.
Professor Kyungin Jang was recognized as the top achiever in the convergence field for his research on the "development of a fully implantable wireless telepathy chip for primate brains." This technology, a fully embedded brain neural recording device that operates wirelessly without batteries or wires, was highly acclaimed for being the first in the world to resolve the activity limitations caused by battery charging or wired connections in leading global technologies, including Elon Musk's Neuralink.
The research team successfully inserted ultra-thin and flexible electrodes into the brain while minimizing brain damage during the process by applying a biodegradable structure. As a result, they were able to stably measure brain signals for over a month even while the primates moved freely. This demonstrated the ability to record brain signals over long periods during natural behaviors such as feeding.
Furthermore, the measured brain neural signals were analyzed using a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, enabling the team to distinguish the stages of primate feeding behavior with over 90% accuracy. This achievement is regarded as a core foundation for next-generation brain-computer interface technology, which is expected to help understand the causes of intractable brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease and eating disorders, as well as to control therapeutic or assistive devices by interpreting patient intentions in real time.
Professor Kyungin Jang stated, "It is highly significant that we have proven for the first time in the world that it is possible to measure brain signals over long periods in a free state using a fully wireless, battery-free brain neural system." He added, "Based on these research results, we will promote commercialization of the technology through Nside Inc., a faculty startup, and introduce products that will meaningfully improve the quality of life for patients with intractable brain diseases."
Meanwhile, the results of this research were published in the world-renowned international journal "Nature Biomedical Engineering," earning academic recognition. Professor Kyungin Jang also received the Minister of Science and ICT Award for this achievement. Additionally, Nside Inc., founded by Professor Jang, is focusing on developing implantable brain-computer interfaces and humanoid integration solutions based on this core technology. The company is expected to secure technological leadership in the rapidly growing physical AI market in the medical and robotics sectors. DGIST plans to further expand global research collaboration in future technology fields that integrate brain science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, building on this achievement.
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