China to build next-generation BeiDou system

China plans to develop a next-generation BeiDou satellite system that will be more powerful, technologically advanced, and capable of delivering higher-quality services.

The announcement was made by the China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) on Thursday at a symposium in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the launch of the country's BeiDou Satellite Navigation System (BDS).

A development plan was released at the symposium outlining the roadmap towards the BeiDou system's next generation.

According to the timeline, key technology breakthroughs are expected by 2025, followed by the launch of three experimental satellites around 2027 to test new technologies. Network deployment is slated to begin around 2029, with the full system set to be completed by 2035.

The next-generation BeiDou system will deliver highly accurate, real-time navigation, positioning and timing with precision levels ranging from meters to decimeters, covering both Earth's surface and near-Earth spaces, according to the CSNO.

The system will optimize its constellation structure with satellites deployed in high, medium and low Earth orbits, to enhance the accuracy of time-space benchmarks and the system's autonomous operation capabilities.

It will also feature an integrated and efficient ground infrastructure, ensuring flexible resource allocation, data sharing and uninterrupted operations.

"The goal for 2035 is to build a more ubiquitous, integrated, and intelligent national space-time system. We not only need to improve precision but also ensure the system's reliability and trustworthiness. Moving forward, there will be many navigation methods, paving the way for a more intelligent, flexible, and networked navigation system," said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BDS.

China's BDS project was launched in 1994 with the construction of the BDS-1 and BDS-2 completed in 2000 and 2012, respectively. When BDS-3 was completed and put into service on July 31, 2020, China became the third country in the world to have an independent global navigation satellite system.

The BDS services and related products have been exported to more than 130 countries, providing users with diversified choices and better application experience, and promoting industrial development, according to a bluebook released in October.

China to build next-generation BeiDou system

The two-day 2025 Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Conference concluded on Friday in Shanghai, where multiple globally leading "China solutions" took center stage.

Under the theme "Brain connects the world, wisdom gathers in Shanghai," the event gathered research teams from major universities, leading industry developers, and experts across the BCI sector to strengthen the connection between research, application, and policy.

As part of the event, the first BCI competition featured four categories—fatigue detection, emotion recognition, brain-controlled robotic cars, and brain-controlled robotic arms - with 40 out of nearly 100 teams from across China received prizes.

In the BCI Industry Innovation Exhibition Zone, more than a dozen frontier-tech companies presented cutting-edge technologies ranging from key components to comprehensive system-level solutions.

Exhibits spanned the entire technology chain, from underlying hardware to clinical applications, covering fields such as sleep intervention, mental illness treatment, and rehabilitation for degenerative diseases—highlighting the latest trends in BCI development.

"We completed the first domestic clinical trial this March, and next year we will launch large-scale clinical trials," said an exhibitor named Chen Yaoxu.

Shanghai has established China's first future industry cluster dedicated to BCI technologies. During the conference, several new innovation platforms—including a BCI service platform and a joint laboratory for digital neuromedicine - were inaugurated.

"We are guided by clinical needs and clinical scenarios. At the same time, we are opening high-quality EEG datasets for enterprises to support their algorithm research and guide them in developing concrete products that truly address real-world needs," said Wang Zhuoyao, BCI Project manager of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission.

Shanghai conference highlights China's cutting-edge brain-computer interface innovations