PIONEERS · Project

Next-Generation Motorcycle Safety Gear and On-Board Protection Systems Ready for Manufacturers

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Imagine riding a motorcycle and having gear that actually knows where and how you're most likely to get hurt — and is designed specifically to protect those spots. PIONEERS brought together helmet makers, motorcycle manufacturers like Piaggio and Ducati, and crash researchers to build 5 new protective equipment prototypes covering everything from your head down to your feet. They also built smart airbag systems that sit on the bike itself and can wirelessly trigger your jacket's airbag the instant a crash begins. Think of it as the motorcycle world's answer to how cars got seatbelts, crumple zones, and airbags all working together.

By the numbers

Working PPE prototypes (head/neck, 2x upper torso, pelvis, lower leg/foot)

Lateral impact mitigation systems installed on real vehicles (Piaggio scooter + Ducati motorcycle)

Consortium partners across the project

Countries represented in the consortium

Industry partners (56% of consortium)

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Motorcycle and scooter riders face disproportionately high injury and fatality rates compared to car occupants, yet the protective gear available today is designed around outdated crash assumptions and comfort trade-offs that discourage daily use. Manufacturers of both vehicles and riding equipment lack validated, modern test methods to prove their safety claims — and riders lack smart systems that can react faster than human reflexes in a crash.

The solution

What was built

The project built 5 working PPE prototypes covering head-and-neck, upper torso (2 variants), pelvis, and lower-leg-and-foot protection. It also delivered 2 lateral impact mitigation systems installed on a Piaggio scooter and a Ducati motorcycle, plus a connected airbag trigger demonstrator that wirelessly links vehicle crash detection to rider-worn airbags.

Audience

Who needs this

Motorcycle and scooter OEMs looking to add on-board rider protection as a premium featureRiding gear and helmet manufacturers wanting validated next-generation protective designsAutomotive testing and certification companies needing updated PPE test methodsDelivery and ride-hailing fleet operators seeking to reduce rider injury ratesInsurance companies wanting to define equipment standards that lower claim costs

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Motorcycle & Scooter Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: OEM motorcycle or scooter manufacturer

If you are a motorcycle or scooter manufacturer looking to differentiate on safety — this project developed 2 lateral impact mitigation systems already installed and tested on a Piaggio scooter and a Ducati motorcycle. These ready-to-integrate on-board systems reduce crash severity and could become a premium safety feature for your next product line. The connected airbag trigger demonstrator also opens a path to vehicle-to-gear communication as a new selling point.

Protective Equipment & Apparel

mid-size

Target: PPE or riding gear manufacturer

If you are a riding gear manufacturer struggling to prove your products outperform competitors — this project produced 5 working prototypes covering head-and-neck, upper torso, pelvis, and lower-leg-and-foot protection, each validated with improved biomechanical test methods. The new testing protocols give you a credible, science-backed way to certify and market superior protection. Adopting these designs could put you ahead of upcoming EU safety regulation updates.

Automotive Insurance & Fleet Safety

any

Target: Insurance company or fleet operator with powered two-wheeler exposure

If you are an insurer or delivery fleet operator dealing with high motorcycle injury claims — this project mapped the most safety-critical accident scenarios and injury patterns for powered two-wheelers. The validated protection systems across 5 body zones and 2 on-board crash mitigation systems provide a concrete equipment standard you could require or incentivize. Mandating PIONEERS-grade gear for riders could measurably reduce claim severity across your portfolio.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt these protection systems?

The project does not publish licensing fees or unit costs. However, with 9 industry partners already in the consortium — including vehicle OEMs and equipment makers — commercial terms are likely negotiable through the coordinator IDIADA or the relevant industrial partner. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to discuss pricing.

Can these systems be manufactured at industrial scale?

The 2 lateral impact mitigation systems were built and installed on production-model Piaggio and Ducati vehicles, which suggests the designs are compatible with existing manufacturing lines. The 5 PPE prototypes are working models validated through improved test methods, so they are engineered for manufacturability, though scaling would require tooling investment.

What is the IP situation — can we license these technologies?

As an EU-funded RIA project, intellectual property typically stays with the partner that generated it. With 9 industry partners across 6 countries, IP is distributed. The coordinator IDIADA Automotive Technology can clarify which partner owns which component and what licensing options exist.

Do these meet current EU safety regulations?

One of PIONEERS' core outputs is improved test and assessment methods for rider protective equipment. These are designed to feed into future EU regulation and type-approval updates. The project explicitly aimed to strengthen European competitiveness through higher-quality safety standards.

How mature are these prototypes — are they ready for production?

The project delivered 5 working PPE prototypes and 2 on-board systems installed on actual branded vehicles. The connected airbag trigger is at demonstrator stage with an open wireless protocol for further development. Based on available project data, these are at late demonstration stage, not yet commercial products.

Can the on-board systems integrate with our existing vehicle platform?

The lateral impact mitigation systems were demonstrated on 2 different vehicle types — a Piaggio scooter and a Ducati motorcycle — showing adaptability across platforms. The connected airbag trigger uses a wireless protocol explicitly designed to be open for further development into a standard, which suggests integration flexibility.

Consortium

Who built it

This is an industry-heavy consortium with 9 out of 16 partners (56%) coming from the private sector, complemented by 6 universities and 1 research organization across 6 countries. The coordinator IDIADA is a major automotive testing and engineering company based in Spain, which signals serious commercial intent. The fact that Piaggio and Ducati vehicles were used for demonstrators confirms that major European motorcycle OEMs are either in the consortium or closely collaborating. With partners spread across Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, the project covers key European motorcycle markets. For a business looking to adopt these technologies, the strong industry presence means the results were designed with manufacturability and market fit in mind — not just academic publications.

IDIADA AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SACoordinator · ES
LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
ROBERT BOSCH GMBHparticipant · DE
PIAGGIO & C S.P.A.participant · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZEparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURGparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALESparticipant · AU
DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING SPAparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFELparticipant · FR
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADTparticipant · DE
AUTOMOBIL CLUB ASSISTENCIA SAparticipant · ES
DAINESE SPAparticipant · IT
BUNDESANSTALT FUER STRASSEN-UND VERKEHRSWESENparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

IDIADA Automotive Technology SA (Spain) — a leading automotive engineering and testing company. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the right technical contact.

Order a report on this consortium See IDIADA AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the PPE prototypes or integrating the on-board safety systems into your vehicles? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner and help you evaluate the technology fit for your product line.

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