Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs provides precise escort for innovation in the brain computer interface industry, adding momentum and overcoming obstacles
Not long ago, the 2025 Brain Computer Interface Conference with the theme of "Brain Connected World • Smart Hub Shanghai" was held in Shanghai. Currently, the layout of national scientific and technological innovation is accelerating towards cutting-edge fields such as neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Brain like intelligence and brain computer interface technology are highly regarded as disruptive fields. This type of research has a high degree of cross fusion, involving experimental animals, special reagents, precision devices and other materials. It generally has high customs clearance requirements, strong timeliness, and strict storage conditions, which puts high demands on customs clearance services.
As the first specialized customs agency in China to support the construction of science and technology innovation centers, the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs under Shanghai Customs has tailored a full chain customs clearance service, which is clearing the cross-border flow barriers of innovation elements for the future development of brain like intelligence and brain computer interfaces, and becoming a solid support for scientific research and development.
Break through the problem beforehand and unblock the import bottleneck of zebrafish for scientific research purposes
Zebrafish is an important model organism in neuroscience research, playing an irreplaceable role in analyzing neural network construction and verifying the performance of new microelectrodes. Previously, the entry quarantine work had been actively prepared, but the conditions for initiating relevant consultations with the exporting country have not yet matured.
In response to this demand, the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs has been working tirelessly to provide precise "hand in hand" services to key research and development institutions. Through the mechanism of "the Chief of Customs delivering policies to the doorstep", we identified the crux of the problem, actively assisted the General Administration of Customs in coordinating and negotiating with relevant foreign departments, and ultimately reached an agreement on quarantine requirements, solving the import problem from the root. At the same time, the customs are providing comprehensive guidance on the establishment of isolation and quarantine sites, as well as the streamlining of regulatory processes, to connect the "first mile" of importing experimental animals. On December 9, a batch of zebrafish for scientific research sent to China was released after quarantine and delivered to the Brain Science and Intelligent Technology Innovation Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for use.
Speed up the process, and every second counts for the clearance of key materials
Key materials such as microelectrodes and neural signal processing chips are the core components of brain computer interface research and development. Their performance directly determines the effectiveness of technological breakthroughs, and they are mostly high-value, vulnerable and consumable materials, with extremely high requirements for clearance time.
In response, the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs has established a "one-on-one" docking mechanism for key enterprises and projects, intervening in advance to provide guidance on declaration, preliminary review of materials, and tax policy research, helping enterprises clarify product classification and achieve compliant declaration. Relying on the Zhangjiang Cross border Science and Technology Innovation Supervision Service Center, a fast track for research and development supplies has been established, allowing these key materials to safely and quickly reach the laboratory, effectively ensuring the continuity of the research and development process.
The customs took the initiative to provide advanced services and dedicated personnel to solve the problem of import declaration for high-performance electrodes, allowing our research and development project to be implemented smoothly, "said the person in charge of a research and development institution in Xuhui District, Shanghai, with deep feelings.
Post empowerment and intellectual property protection build a strong innovation barrier
Completing customs clearance is not the end point of service, but the starting point of deeper empowerment. For the field of neuromorphic intelligence that heavily relies on original technology, intellectual property protection is the key to maintaining innovation vitality.
As early as 2021, the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs took the lead in establishing the country's first customs protection center for intellectual property rights of science and technology innovation enterprises. Over the years, it has been providing full process services such as filing, policy guidance, and rights protection cooperation for science and technology innovation enterprises. During the 2025 National Intellectual Property Promotion Week, the agency, in collaboration with the Pudong New Area Intellectual Property Bureau, released the "Cross border Intellectual Property Service Measures for Science and Technology Innovation Enterprises". Through the "one application, dual protection" mechanism, it provides a "closed-loop" service for independent intellectual property advantage enterprises, including filing guidance and infringement response, and fully protects scientific research achievements.
Supporting cutting-edge research such as neuromorphic intelligence and brain computer interfaces is a concrete practice for customs to serve the national innovation driven development strategy, "said Yang Haijun, the director of customs at the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center. Customs will continue to provide more scientific, accurate, and flexible regulatory services to help China seize the initiative in this future technological high ground competition.
With the implementation of a series of precise services, the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Customs is providing solid support for researchers to venture into unmanned areas at the forefront of brain science with intelligent customs clearance and service temperature, helping China achieve high-quality innovation breakthroughs in the fields of brain like intelligence and brain computer interfaces.