INSTITUTO DE BIOMECANICA DE VALENCIA

Their core work

IBV is a Spanish applied research centre specializing in biomechanics and human-centred technology design. They develop 3D body models, wearable sensor systems, and user acceptance frameworks that bridge the gap between human factors research and product/service design. Their work spans from personalised health interventions (back pain rehabilitation, active aging) to transport safety (automated vehicle acceptance) and digital body data ecosystems, always with the human body and human behaviour at the centre.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IBV's early H2020 work (2016-2018) focused on health and digital body data — active aging (my-AHA), 3D body scanning for apparel (InKreate), back pain rehabilitation (Back-UP), and personal body data APIs (BodyPass). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward transport and AI-driven human factors: automated vehicle acceptance with cognitive modelling (SUaaVE), EV charging infrastructure (USER-CHI), and smart wearable coaching (BIONIC). This evolution shows IBV applying its core biomechanics and human-centred design expertise to increasingly complex sociotechnical systems like autonomous mobility and smart energy.

IBV is moving from body-level biomechanics toward system-level human-technology interaction, positioning itself as a go-to partner for human acceptance and behaviour modelling in automated transport and smart mobility.

How they like to work

IBV splits evenly between leading and joining consortia (4 coordinated, 4 as participant), indicating confidence in project management while remaining open to specialist contributor roles. With 109 unique partners across 25 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than sticking to a tight circle. This makes them an accessible partner — experienced in consortium coordination, comfortable in diverse international teams, and capable of taking either leadership or technical roles as needed.

IBV has collaborated with 109 distinct partners across 25 countries, forming a broad European network. Their reach spans well beyond the Iberian region, reflecting deep integration into pan-European research and innovation consortia.

What sets them apart

IBV occupies a rare niche: they combine deep biomechanical expertise with user acceptance research and data privacy awareness (GDPR-compliant personal body data). Few organisations can simultaneously model the human body in 3D, design sensor-based coaching systems, and run cognitive-emotional acceptance studies for new technologies. For consortium builders, IBV brings the human factors dimension that technical projects often lack — grounded not in surveys but in biomechanical measurement and behavioural modelling.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SUaaVE
  IBV-coordinated project applying AI and cognitive-emotional modelling to automated vehicle acceptance — a distinctive combination of biomechanics institute tackling autonomous driving.
• BodyPass
  Largest IBV budget (EUR 589K), coordinated by IBV, building a cross-sectoral API ecosystem for 3D personal body data exchange — a foundational infrastructure project.
• BIONIC
  Bridges IBV's health and digital expertise with wearable sensor networks, gamified coaching, and GDPR-compliant personal data handling in a single integrated system.