First German brain chip implanted in stroke patient – competition for Neuralink?

 

FYI. I would never do this, as a programmer I never accepted the first edition of software or hardware. Too likely to have bugs. Since most of my motor and pre-motor cortex is dead I doubt this has any applicability for my type of damage.

First German brain chip implanted in stroke patient – competition for Neuralink?

A milestone was reached in July 2025: a stroke patient in Seattle received the first brain computer interface chip developed entirely in Germany. The Freiburg-based neurotech company CorTec introduced Brain Interchange, a closed-loop system that not only records brain signals but also delivers targeted electrical stimulation. Unlike Neuralink, where the focus is on controlling digital devices, CorTec is pursuing a therapeutic approach. This implantation could fundamentally change neurorehabilitation after stroke and represents a direct competitive advantage over Elon Musk’s company.

CorTec, based in Freiburg, Germany, has developed the Brain Interchange System, an implantable brain band that can wirelessly record brain activity and return electrical stimulus in real time. The system uses flexible, soft electrodes on the motor cortex and works in a closed-loop process: Signals from the brain are analyzed immediately and sent back as therapy signals. This is intended to support neuroplastic processes for rehabilitation.

The first implantation took place at the Harborview Medical Center of the University of Washington under an FDA-approved early feasibility study protocol. The surgery was supervised by neurologists from the UW School of Medicine and UCLA. The aim is to test whether electrical cortical stimulation can sustainably improve motor function in the upper arm area in stroke patients. The admitted patient, about 52 years old, is recovering well.

While Neuralink primarily enables digital devices to be controlled by thought, CorTec is targeting medical applications. The company relies on a platform that enables continuous sensing and stimulation, ideal for adaptive therapy approaches. CorTec emphasizes its technology as the world’s first German implant system with closed-loop functionality in human use.

The FDA had already approved the Investigational Device Exemption. The Institutional Ethics Committee of the University of Washington approved the study. In the first phase, four test subjects are planned, followed by a follow-up study with eight further participants. The primary objective is safety; the second objective is the clinical effect on motor function. With around 1.7 million new strokes occurring every year in the USA alone, CorTec’s technology potentially offers a quantum leap for rehabilitation. The combination of high-precision cortical stimulation, real-time feedback and individual therapy-related adjustments could help regain lost arm function.

Conclusion

With the Brain Interchange, CorTec is implanting the first human brain interface developed in Germany. The closed-loop system with a therapeutic focus differs significantly from neural interfaces such as Neuralink. This step marks a global clinical success for the German neurotech industry. Successful proof of efficacy is still a prerequisite for the breakthrough. However, the technology could establish itself as a new pillar in stroke rehabilitation and raise CorTec’s international profile.

Source:

Medical technology: First German brain chip successfully implanted