KII Accelerates Funding for JiMED's Wireless BCI Clinical Trials

Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) has taken a significant step forward by increasing its investment in JiMED, a startup originating from Osaka University. This additional funding will facilitate JiMED's clinical trial preparations for its groundbreaking wireless implantable Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), bringing the total fundraising to an impressive 330 million yen (about 3.3 million USD).

JiMED focuses on the development of a wireless implantable BCI medical device, called wiBCI, which will connect the brain to external devices. Recently, JiMED's clinical trial application was accepted by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). This crucial approval paves the way for Japan's first corporate clinical trial targeting patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), scheduled to commence by 2026.

In Japan and globally, numerous patients exist in a so-called