RETRAINER · Project

Robotic Arm-and-Hand Rehabilitation System for Stroke Survivors Ready for Clinical Use

healthPilotedTRL 7

After a stroke, many people lose the ability to move their arm or grip things — and the window for recovery is short. RETRAINER built two wearable devices that help patients re-learn these movements by gently assisting muscles with electrical stimulation, stepping in only when the patient truly needs help. Think of it like training wheels for your arm: the robot supports you just enough to practice real movements, then gradually backs off as you get stronger. The systems were tested in real clinical trials with actual patients to prove they work.

By the numbers

2,784,831

EUR in EU funding invested

consortium partners

countries involved (AT, CH, DE, IT)

industry partners in consortium

systems developed (S1 arm + S2 hand)

total project deliverables

demo deliverables showing working prototypes

The business problem

What needed solving

Stroke survivors often lose arm and hand function, and the critical recovery window is limited. Current rehabilitation options are either too passive (manual physiotherapy with limited intensity) or too robotic (devices that move the limb for the patient, which doesn't rebuild the brain-muscle connection). Clinics need technology that actively trains residual function — helping patients do real movements with just enough support — at a scale and consistency that human therapists alone cannot deliver.

The solution

What was built

Two complete rehabilitation systems: S1 combines a passive arm exoskeleton with controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation for arm reaching movements; S2 is a wearable multi-electrode system for hand grasping rehabilitation. Both systems were fully integrated, tested, and delivered as prototype sets to clinical partners for randomized controlled trials. The project also developed interactive everyday objects that guide rehabilitation exercises and monitor daily life use.

Audience

Who needs this

Rehabilitation robotics manufacturers looking for clinically validated product platformsPrivate rehabilitation hospital chains seeking differentiated stroke recovery programsMedical device distributors serving the neurorehabilitation market in EuropeWearable health tech companies wanting to add clinical-grade rehabilitation to their portfolioNational health services evaluating cost-effective stroke rehabilitation technologies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Device Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Rehabilitation robotics companies or orthopedic device manufacturers

If you are a medical device manufacturer looking to expand into neurorehabilitation — this project developed two tested prototype systems (S1 for arm support via exoskeleton plus muscle stimulation, S2 for hand grasping via wearable electrodes) validated through randomized clinical trials with 10 consortium partners across 4 countries. The technology builds on a previous EU project (MUNDUS), meaning the R&D groundwork is already done.

Rehabilitation Clinic Chains

enterprise

Target: Private rehabilitation hospital groups and physiotherapy clinic networks

If you run rehabilitation clinics dealing with stroke patients who plateau in recovery — this project created devices that combine a passive exoskeleton with controlled electrical muscle stimulation to train residual arm and hand function. The system was designed for real-life use with interactive everyday objects, meaning patients practice actual daily tasks rather than abstract exercises. Full prototype sets were delivered and tested at clinical partner sites.

Digital Health & Assistive Technology

SME

Target: Wearable health technology companies and digital therapeutics startups

If you are a wearable tech company seeking clinically validated rehabilitation technology — RETRAINER's S2 system uses multiple electrode arrays in a wearable format for hand rehabilitation. The project pursued medical device certification and produced 17 deliverables including fully integrated and tested prototypes. With 5 industry partners already in the consortium, the path from prototype to product has been partially mapped.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or integrate this technology?

The project was funded with EUR 2,784,831 in EU contribution across 10 partners. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator AB.ACUS SRL (Italy) and the consortium. As an Innovation Action with certification pursued, IP is likely well-defined but specific licensing costs are not publicly available.

Can this scale to industrial production?

The project produced full sets of tested prototypes for both systems (S1 and S2) that were delivered to clinical partners. With 5 industry partners and 2 SMEs in the consortium, manufacturing know-how is built into the team. However, moving from tested prototypes to mass production would require additional investment in manufacturing processes and regulatory approval.

What is the IP situation?

As a Horizon 2020 Innovation Action, IP generated belongs to the consortium partners who created it. The coordinator AB.ACUS SRL is an Italian SME, and the project involved partners from 4 countries (AT, CH, DE, IT). Any licensing arrangement would need to account for distributed IP ownership across the 10-partner consortium.

Has this been tested with real patients?

Yes. The project objective explicitly states that systems underwent a randomized controlled clinical trial with end users to assess rehabilitation efficacy. Full sets of tested prototypes were delivered to clinical partners for this purpose. This is one of the strongest forms of clinical evidence available.

What regulatory approvals does this have?

The project pursued medical device certification and qualification, contingent on experimental results. Based on available project data, the exact certification status at project close (March 2019) is not specified in the public records. Any company interested would need to verify current CE marking status with the coordinator.

How does this differ from existing rehabilitation robots?

Unlike robots that fully take over movement, RETRAINER specifically supports the patient only when needed — training residual function rather than replacing it. The system combines a passive exoskeleton with controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation, plus interactive everyday objects that guide exercises. This approach builds on the earlier MUNDUS project for assistive devices.

What is the timeline to bring this to market?

The project ran from 2015 to 2019 and achieved fully integrated, tested prototypes delivered to clinical sites. Based on available project data, remaining steps would include completing regulatory certification, establishing manufacturing partnerships, and commercial launch. A realistic timeline would depend on current certification status and investment.

Consortium

Who built it

The RETRAINER consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, with 5 industry partners (50% of the team) alongside 4 universities and 1 research organization across 4 countries (Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy). The coordinator AB.ACUS SRL is an Italian SME, which signals entrepreneurial drive and commercial intent. Having 2 SMEs in the consortium means the technology was developed with practical market constraints in mind, not just academic curiosity. The mix of Central European engineering expertise (AT, CH, DE) with Italian coordination and SME agility makes this consortium credible for taking rehabilitation robotics from clinical validation toward commercial deployment.

AB.ACUS SRLCoordinator · IT
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIENparticipant · AT
CONGREGAZIONE DELLE SUORE INFERMIERE DELL ADDOLORATAparticipant · IT
OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBHparticipant · AT
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT BERLINparticipant · DE
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
HASOMED HARD-UND SOFTWARE FUER MEDIZIN GESELLSCHAFT MBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

AB.ACUS SRL is an Italian SME that coordinated the project. Contact them through their company website or via the CORDIS contact form for licensing and partnership inquiries.

Order a report on this consortium See AB.ACUS SRL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the RETRAINER team to explore licensing, manufacturing partnerships, or clinical deployment. We handle the introduction — you focus on the business case.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical