At one of the world’s largest medical technology trade fairs, KUKA demonstrates how robot-based solutions can support doctors and therapists – and, with the KUKA Innovation Award, offers young talents a platform for their medical robotics ideas. The 5 finalist teams are guidooSpine (Germany), SERA (Canada), AUROVAS (Italy), ULTRATOPIA (Belgium, Switzerland), and Team HERMIS (Germany). To turn their ideas into reality, KUKA provides the finalists with the LBR Med – the first collaborative robot that is specially certified for integration into medical products – as well as a Vision System from NDI. All teams present their concepts to an international professional audience of trade fair visitors, the media, and investors from November 17th–20th, at the trade fair. On November 19, at 11 a.m., the winner of the innovation prize endowed with 20,000 euros will be ceremoniously selected and honored by a jury of renowned professors from robotics and medicine as well as doctors and founders from the field of medical technology.

A look back shows how innovative ideas within the framework of the KUKA Innovation Award have already enriched the healthcare sector. For example, the Danish team ROPCA won the award in 2022.

With their solution, the ARTHUR system – a specially developed ultrasound robot for robot-assisted examination of rheumatoid arthritis – ROPCA enables an automated and efficient examination. Patients can interact directly with the platform, while doctors save valuable time because the ultrasound images needed for diagnosis are already available. The team’s goal: to support clinics in increasing productivity and quality in everyday life through innovative robotics applications.

This success story shows how technology and talent work together in the healthcare sector of the future. With the Innovation Award, KUKA specifically promotes young talents and innovative approaches to meet the challenges of tomorrow.