INVENTIVIO GMBH

Their core work

Inventivio is a Nuremberg-based SME developing assistive technology products for blind and visually impaired people. Their flagship product, Tactonom, is a working tool designed to increase employment opportunities for blind individuals by enabling access to tactile graphics and braille-based interfaces. They combine expertise in tactile sensing, haptics, and flexible electronics to create devices that bridge the gap between visual information and touch-based interaction, positioning themselves at the intersection of disability technology and workplace inclusion.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Inventivio's H2020 journey follows a classic SME scale-up arc. They started in 2018 with a Phase 1 feasibility study for Tactonom (EUR 50K), then deepened their scientific base by joining the INTUITIVE research network on tactile sensing and haptics (2019), before securing a substantial Phase 2 grant of EUR 2.1M in 2021 to bring Tactonom to market. The keyword data confirms this progression: early activity lacked specific keywords, while recent projects show a rich vocabulary spanning accessibility, disability inclusion, tactile graphics, braille, and medical devices — indicating a maturing product with clearer market positioning.

Inventivio is moving from R&D into product commercialization and market entry, with their Tactonom device likely approaching or reaching market readiness as a classified medical/assistive device.

How they like to work

Inventivio primarily leads its own projects — 2 out of 3 projects as coordinator — which is typical for a product-focused SME driving its own innovation roadmap. They joined the INTUITIVE consortium (a larger Marie Curie training network) as a participant, likely to access fundamental research in tactile sensing that feeds into their product development. With 11 unique partners across 8 countries, they maintain a reasonably broad network for an SME of this size, suggesting openness to international collaboration when it serves their core product mission.

Inventivio has collaborated with 11 partners across 8 countries, a solid international footprint for a small company. Their network spans both industry (via SME Instrument projects) and academia (via the INTUITIVE Marie Curie network).

What sets them apart

Inventivio occupies a very specific niche: technology that makes workplaces accessible to blind people through tactile interfaces. This is not a generic accessibility company — they have a concrete product (Tactonom) with a clear path from feasibility to funded commercialization. For consortium builders working on inclusive design, disability employment, or assistive devices, Inventivio brings both deep domain expertise and a track record of turning research into real products for a population that most tech companies overlook.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Tactonom (Phase 2)
  EUR 2.1M SME Instrument Phase 2 grant — a highly competitive award signaling EU confidence in this product's commercial viability for blind people's workplace inclusion.
• INTUITIVE
  Marie Curie training network on tactile sensing and haptics — shows Inventivio's ability to bridge fundamental research with applied product development as an industry partner in an academic consortium.