HANK · Project

Brain-Controlled Robotic Exoskeleton Helping Stroke and Spinal Injury Patients Walk Again

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Imagine a wearable robotic suit for the legs that helps people who've had a stroke or spinal cord injury learn to walk again. What makes it special is that it reads brain signals — so the patient just thinks about moving, and the exoskeleton responds. It controls the hip, knee, and ankle independently, which gives physiotherapists much more flexibility to tailor rehab to each patient. A pre-series of 20 units was built industrially, making this one of the first European-made rehab exoskeletons ready for clinical use.

By the numbers

Industrially-produced pre-series exoskeletons built

Consortium partners

Countries involved (ES, FR, IT)

Independent joint controls (hip, knee, ankle)

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Stroke and spinal cord injuries leave thousands of patients each year unable to walk, requiring intensive and prolonged rehabilitation that is expensive and labor-intensive. Current rehabilitation exoskeletons are made by non-European companies, offer limited joint control, and do not use brain signals to actively restore neural pathways. Rehabilitation clinics need affordable, advanced robotic tools that both assist physical recovery and promote actual neurological healing.

The solution

What was built

The team built HANK, a lower-limb robotic exoskeleton with EEG brain-signal control and independent hip, knee, and ankle articulation for gait rehabilitation. Key deliverables include a redesigned prototype, a first industrial prototype, and a pre-series of 20 industrially-produced exoskeletons ready for clinical validation.

Audience

Who needs this

Neurorehabilitation hospitals and stroke recovery centersMedical device distributors specializing in rehabilitation equipmentNational health services and insurance companies evaluating rehab technologySpinal cord injury treatment centersPhysiotherapy chains and outpatient rehabilitation clinics

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Rehabilitation Healthcare

any

Target: Rehabilitation hospitals and neurorehabilitation clinics

If you are a rehabilitation hospital dealing with slow, labor-intensive gait recovery for stroke and spinal cord injury patients — this project built a lower-limb exoskeleton with EEG brain-signal control and independent hip, knee, and ankle articulation. A pre-series of 20 units was produced industrially for clinical validation, meaning you could equip your facility with a European-made device that lets patients control movement through thought, potentially accelerating recovery and freeing up physiotherapist time.

Medical Device Distribution

mid-size

Target: Medical device distributors and dealers specializing in rehabilitation equipment

If you are a medical device distributor looking for the next generation of rehabilitation technology — HANK is positioned as the first European lower-limb exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation, developed by a Spanish SME with a 4-partner consortium across 3 countries. With 20 industrially-produced pre-series units already built and a competitive pricing strategy versus existing non-European competitors, this represents a distribution opportunity in an emerging market with very few players.

Insurance and Health Payers

enterprise

Target: Health insurance companies and national health service procurement offices

If you are a health insurer or public health procurement office evaluating cost-effective rehabilitation technologies — this exoskeleton uses EEG-driven control to actively restore neural connections in brain damage patients, not just assist movement. With ankle joint control that no competitor offers and a stated goal of competitive pricing, it could reduce long-term rehabilitation costs by improving recovery outcomes for stroke survivors and paraplegic patients.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does HANK cost compared to competing exoskeletons?

The project objective explicitly states HANK will have a very competitive price compared with existing competitors. However, no specific price point is given in the available data. The coordinator GOGOA Mobility Robots (Spain) would need to be contacted for current pricing.

Is this ready for industrial-scale production?

Yes — a pre-series of 20 exoskeletons was produced industrially as a key deliverable, following an industrial redesign phase. The project went through three stages: redesigned prototype, first industrial prototype, and then the full pre-series of 20 units. This demonstrates manufacturing readiness.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The project was coordinated by GOGOA Mobility Robots SL, a Spanish SME, under an Innovation Action funding scheme. Based on available project data, IP ownership details are not specified. Interested parties should contact the coordinator to discuss licensing or purchase agreements.

What makes HANK different from other rehabilitation exoskeletons?

Three differentiators stand out from the project data: EEG brain-signal control that facilitates actual neural rehabilitation (not just physical assistance), independent control of all three leg joints including the ankle (which no competitor offers), and it is the first European-made device in this category. The ankle control specifically enables smoother patient movement.

Who are the patients this is designed for?

HANK targets patients with Acquired Brain Damage (including stroke survivors) and spinal cord injuries. It is designed for gait rehabilitation and can be used by patients ranging from those recovering partial mobility to full paraplegic and quadriplegic patients, who can control the exoskeleton directly through brain signals.

What regulatory approvals does HANK have?

Based on available project data, the 20 pre-series units were produced for clinical validations and dissemination purposes. The specific regulatory status (CE marking, medical device classification) is not detailed in the project documentation. The coordinator should be contacted for current certification status.

How long has this been in development and what is the current status?

The EU-funded project ran from March 2016 to February 2018 and is now closed. During those 2 years, the team progressed from redesign through industrial prototyping to a pre-series of 20 units. Current commercial status would need to be confirmed with GOGOA Mobility Robots.

Consortium

Who built it

The HANK consortium is compact and commercially oriented: 4 partners across Spain, France, and Italy, with a 50% industry ratio and 2 SMEs. The coordinator GOGOA Mobility Robots (Spain) is an SME classified as a private commercial entity, which signals genuine market intent rather than a research-only exercise. The balanced mix of 2 industry and 2 research partners suggests the research side provided the EEG and biomechanics expertise while the industry side handled industrial design and manufacturing scale-up. The absence of university partners is notable — this is a team focused on getting a product to market, not publishing papers.

GOGOA MOBILITY ROBOTS SLCoordinator · ES
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
FONDAZIONE SANTA LUCIAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

GOGOA Mobility Robots SL is a Spanish SME based in the Basque Country. Search for their current website and contact details, or use the CORDIS contact form for project 699796.

Order a report on this consortium See GOGOA MOBILITY ROBOTS SL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the HANK team to discuss clinical deployment, distribution partnerships, or licensing? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the coordinator.

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