ROESSINGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BV

Their core work

Roessingh Research and Development (RRD) is a Dutch applied research company specializing in rehabilitation technology, wearable robotics, and digital health solutions for people with physical disabilities and age-related conditions. They develop smart assistive devices — from soft exoskeletons and prostheses to virtual coaching systems and gamified rehabilitation platforms — that help patients regain mobility and independence. Their work bridges biomechanical engineering with user-centered digital tools, translating clinical rehabilitation needs into sensor-based, personalized technology solutions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

RRD's early H2020 work (2015–2017) centered on direct assistive technologies: soft exoskeletons, augmented reality for rehabilitation, and digital tools for elderly independence and cognitive inclusion. From 2018 onward, they shifted noticeably toward testing infrastructure and standardization — benchmarking wearable robots, validating safety of collaborative robots, and building assessment frameworks. They also expanded into data-driven coaching systems with stronger emphasis on personal data protection and GDPR compliance, reflecting a maturation from building individual devices to ensuring those devices are safe, validated, and regulation-ready.

RRD is moving from device development toward testing, benchmarking, and regulatory compliance for rehabilitation robotics — positioning themselves as a validation and assessment partner for the next generation of assistive technologies.

How they like to work

RRD has never coordinated an H2020 project — they consistently participate as a specialized partner, contributing domain expertise in rehabilitation technology and user evaluation. With 165 unique consortium partners across 24 countries in just 14 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia rather than small focused teams. This breadth suggests they are a well-connected, trusted contributor that different lead organizations seek out when rehabilitation or assistive technology expertise is needed.

RRD has collaborated with 165 distinct partners across 24 countries, an exceptionally broad network for an SME with 14 projects. Their base in Enschede (near the University of Twente) and their consistently large consortia indicate strong pan-European reach across both academic and industrial partners.

What sets them apart

RRD occupies a rare niche at the intersection of rehabilitation medicine and engineering — they are not a pure tech company nor a clinical institution, but an applied research SME that can translate patient needs into working prototypes and validated assessments. Their combination of wearable robotics expertise with user-centered evaluation and safety benchmarking makes them an ideal partner for projects that need to demonstrate real-world clinical impact. Few organizations in Europe can simultaneously contribute to exoskeleton design, gamified rehabilitation software, and standardized testing frameworks for those same devices.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MyLeg
  Their largest single grant (EUR 810,750) and most ambitious project — developing smart osseointegrated transfemoral prostheses with advanced dynamic behavior, representing deep commitment to next-generation prosthetics.
• EUROBENCH
  European-scale robotics benchmarking framework — positions RRD as a key player in setting testing standards for bipedal locomotion and wearable robots across the continent.
• BIONIC
  Combines body sensor networks with gamified coaching and explicit GDPR/data protection focus, representing RRD's evolution toward data-aware, regulation-compliant rehabilitation technology.