EMBLA MEDICAL HF

Their core work

Embla Medical is an Icelandic medical technology company specializing in prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons, and human-machine interfaces for people with mobility impairments. They develop sensor systems, prosthetic sockets, and sensory feedback technologies that help amputees regain natural movement and feeling. Their work spans the full chain from neural interfaces and biomechanical sensors to wearable assistive devices, consistently focusing on the user experience of people who rely on prosthetics and rehabilitation robotics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2018), Embla Medical focused on mechanical assistive devices — soft exoskeletons, wearable robots, and standardized testing of robotic locomotion systems (XoSoft, EUROBENCH, INBOTS). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward prosthetics with neural and sensory integration: restoring touch sensation for amputees, developing smart prosthetic sockets with embedded sensors, and bidirectional neural interfaces (SocketSense, GoSafe, NeuTouch, SOMA). The trajectory is clear — from making devices that assist movement to making devices that feel natural by closing the sensory loop between prosthetic and nervous system.

Embla Medical is moving toward fully integrated neuroprosthetics where the prosthetic limb communicates bidirectionally with the user's nervous system — a strong partner for any project bridging bioelectronics and rehabilitation.

How they like to work

Embla Medical operates exclusively as a participant or partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which suggests they contribute specialized technical expertise rather than leading consortium management. With 83 unique partners across 15 countries, they are well-networked and comfortable in large European consortia (most of their projects involve 10+ partners). Their consistent presence across multiple related but distinct projects indicates they are a trusted specialist that gets invited back by the assistive robotics and prosthetics research community.

Broadly connected across 15 European countries with 83 unique consortium partners, indicating deep integration into the EU assistive technology and rehabilitation robotics research community. Being Iceland-based, their network is inherently pan-European rather than regionally clustered.

What sets them apart

Embla Medical occupies a rare niche as a private company that bridges mechanical prosthetics with neural interface technology — most organizations in this space are either university labs or large medtech firms, while Embla sits in between with practical product development experience. Their Icelandic base is unusual in the European assistive technology landscape, where most players cluster in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. For consortium builders, they bring industry-grade prosthetics engineering combined with genuine research depth in sensory feedback — the kind of partner that can turn lab prototypes into devices real amputees can use.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GoSafe
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 766,500) and directly targets the frontier of restoring complete sensory ability for natural walking in amputees — Embla's most ambitious project.
• SocketSense
  Highly applied project (EUR 540,673) combining printed electronics with biomechanics to redesign prosthetic sockets — closest to a near-market product in their portfolio.
• NeuTouch
  MSCA training network on neural coding of touch for prosthetics and robotics — signals Embla's investment in next-generation talent and fundamental neuroscience alongside their applied work.