POLAR ELECTRO OY

Their core work

Polar Electro is a Finnish wearable technology company known globally for heart rate monitors and fitness tracking devices. In H2020 projects, they contribute deep expertise in wearable sensor design, biometric data collection, and user-facing health monitoring hardware. Their participation spans from advanced manufacturing of flexible electronics to 5G-enabled health applications, consistently serving as the wearable device and sensing technology partner. They bridge the gap between laboratory-stage sensor innovations and consumer-ready wearable products.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Polar Electro's earliest H2020 involvement (PRESTIGE, 2017) focused on integrating printed functional materials into consumer products — essentially exploring next-generation manufacturing for interactive devices. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward health-oriented wearables and connected medical technology, with projects spanning wellbeing monitoring (BEWELL), 5G remote healthcare (5G-HEART), medical diagnostics (MedPhab), and flexible wearable electronics (RoLA-FLEX). The trajectory shows a company moving from manufacturing process research toward health-tech applications and digital connectivity for their wearable products.

Polar Electro is converging on 5G-connected wearable health devices and photonics-enabled medical diagnostics, positioning themselves at the intersection of consumer wearables and clinical-grade monitoring.

How they like to work

Polar Electro operates exclusively as a participant — never a coordinator — across all five H2020 projects, which is consistent with a large industrial company contributing specific product expertise rather than managing research agendas. With 71 unique consortium partners across 17 countries, they work in large, diverse consortia and do not appear to cluster around repeat partners. This suggests they are a sought-after industry partner that research consortia invite for their wearable technology credibility and product integration capabilities.

Polar Electro has collaborated with 71 distinct partners across 17 countries, indicating a broad European network built through participation in large consortia. Their Finnish base combined with wide geographic spread suggests they are well-connected across EU research ecosystems without strong regional bias.

What sets them apart

Polar Electro brings something rare to EU consortia: they are an established commercial wearable device manufacturer with global market presence, not a startup or research lab. This means projects involving them can validate sensor technologies and health monitoring concepts against real product lines and existing user bases. For consortium builders, partnering with Polar Electro adds immediate industrial credibility and a realistic path from research prototype to market-ready wearable product.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 5G-HEART
  Largest single grant (EUR 992,500) and their most ambitious scope — validating 5G network slicing for healthcare, aquaculture, and transport verticals.
• MedPhab
  Positions Polar Electro in the medical diagnostics photonics pilot line, signaling expansion from consumer fitness into clinical-grade medical devices.
• RoLA-FLEX
  Connects organic photovoltaics and flexible displays with wearable electronics, exploring self-powered wearable devices through advanced materials.