Shaping human-centred innovation through global collaboration

From brain-controlled prosthetics and exoskeletons to smart contact lenses and bioprinting, these innovations show how Swedish researchers and companies collaborate with international partners to advance human-centred technologies worldwide.

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Brain-controlled prosthetics

Imagine controlling a prosthetic limb with your mind. Already in 2012, Chalmers University of Technology researcher Max Ortiz Catalan built a prototype that allowed users to control a prosthesis in a lab environment via nerve and muscle implants. Today, brain-computer interface (BCI) systems can read brain signals and wirelessly operate robotic prostheses, bringing future neuroprosthetics closer to reality. Swedish research has been crucial for testing and developing this technology, and experiences are shared in international collaborations to make it accessible to more users.

Exoskeletons that enhance the body

Exoskeletons were initially developed for healthcare to assist people with reduced mobility, but the technology is now rapidly advancing to enable us to walk farther, run faster, and lift heavier loads. Swedish researchers and engineers have driven much of the early development, and knowledge exchange in EU projects has been essential to advance the technology and adapt it to a wider range of applications.

Bioprinting for future healthcare

Bioprinting has moved from lab experiments to experimental treatments, where skin, cartilage, and small blood vessels can be tailored to individual patients. Swedish research groups at the Karolinska Institutet, Chalmers University of Technology, and Uppsala University collaborate with companies such as CELLINK, whose bioprinters are used worldwide, enabling knowledge sharing and accelerating the development of next-generation medical solutions.

Film produced for the 2025 Polhems Prize, Sweden’s oldest engineering award, presented by Engineers of Sweden, in collaboration with Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency.

Looking for swedish partners?

Collaborations between Swedish researchers, companies, and international actors make future innovations possible faster and more efficiently. Sweden has an innovation ecosystem where academia, industry, and civil society work closely together – offering unique opportunities for global actors to develop solutions that improve both people’s lives and the planet.