Strengthening innovation in rehabilitation through digitalization, robotics, and smart medical technologies, with a focus on the needs of older people and structurally weak regions in Central Europe.
RehAllianCE is an Interreg Central Europe project that aims to improve the quality of life in Central Europe through the use of digitalization, robotics, and smart medical technology in rehabilitation, with a particular focus on older people and structurally weak regions.
Six partners from five countries are working together to strengthen the innovative capacity of SMEs in the medtech sector and improve their access to research, innovation, and markets.
- Duration: May 1, 2024 – October 31, 2026 (30 months)
- Total funding volume: EUR 1,578,032.80
- Funding rate: 80% through the Interreg Central Europe
Role of BioRegio STERN in RehAllianCE
BioRegio STERN Management GmbH is actively involved in shaping RehAllianCE and is responsible for tasks in three key areas:
- Regional pilot project
In the STERN region, we are testing the sensor-based pelvic floor training device Apelvo with a focus on gender-specific application. Together with Fysor GmbH and USE-Ing. GmbH, we are organizing a focus group to gather information on user experiences, acceptance, and potential for improvement
- Content-related Project Work & Strategy
Collection and analysis of successful best-practice examples from all partner regions, contribution to the development of the Smart-Rehab-INDEX, and analysis of structural barriers to innovation. The goal is to identify transferable models for the use of innovative rehabilitation technologies and to promote their implementation. - International Pilot Coordination & Sustainability
Recruitment and support of SMEs for the transnational pilot study, standardization of evaluation methods, and knowledge transfer between regions. In addition, contribution to the establishment of the RehAllianCE Competence Centre to ensure that innovations remain available across Europe beyond the project’s duration.
Benefits for the BioRegion STERN
The project strengthens regional innovative capacity in digital healthcare, improves access to modern rehabilitation technologies, and opens up new market opportunities for SMEs in the European healthcare sector. At the same time, patients in the region benefit from better, more local, and individually tailored care.
Project partners
- GAPR – Upper Silesian Accelerator for Commercial Enterprises Ltd. (PL, Lead Partner)
- BioRegio STERN Management GmbH (DE)
- Pannon Business Network Association – PBN (HU)
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences – CUAS (AT)
- NSBPROJECT Venezia (IT)
- ProMIS – Programma Mattone Internazionale Salute (IT)
Why this project matters
Demographic change, regional disparities in healthcare provision, and the rising demand for rehabilitation services are putting pressure on healthcare systems. RehAllianCE addresses:
- Unequal access to rehabilitation services between urban and rural areas
- Slow adoption of innovative technologies
- Lack of systemic rehabilitation models
Achievements & progress
- Best-Practice Catalogue created - collected successful technology-based rehabilitation solutions: RehAllianCE_Best-Practices-CATALOGUE-.pdf
- Pilot phase launched with five regional Living Labs:
- 🇵🇱 Poland: Robotics-based rehab & rehab vouchers to reduce long waiting times
- 🇭🇺 Hungary: Combination of physical therapies for joint degeneration (65+)
- 🇦🇹 Austria: Wearables & digital home-based rehabilitation for rural regions
- 🇩🇪 Germany: Sensor-based pelvic floor training with gender-sensitive adaptation
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Neurorehabilitation with robotics, VR/AR & telerehabilitation
- Transnational pilot study with eight innovative SMEs for market validation and user testing:
- ACTIMI (Germany)
- DIGITALREHAB SRL (Italy)
- Pro-PLUS SA (Poland)
- REHABILITY (Italy)
- GABEL S.R.L. (Italy)
- Morecognition (Italy)
- GAMETHERAPY s.r.o. (Slowakia)
- ilogs smartwear GmbH (Austria)
With ACTIMI, a company from the BioRegion STERN is represented. Its platform connects wearables, medical devices, and health records to enable data-driven rehabilitation models.
Planned activities & outlook
- Smart-Rehab-INDEX: Benchmark tool to assess the quality and innovation capacity of regional rehab systems.
- RehAllianCE Competence Centre: Virtual platform offering:
- Knowledge database with best practices, studies, manuals, and tutorials
- Catalogue of validated technologies
- E-learning and networking opportunities
- Evaluation of pilot projects and derivation of transferable models for internationalization and commercialization of rehabilitation technologies.
- Development of policy recommendations to improve long-term access to innovative rehabilitation technologies.
- Establishing sustainable cooperation to ensure continued availability and scaling of innovations across Europe beyond the project’s lifetime.
RehAllianCE develops technology-supported rehabilitation solutions with direct benefits for the following application fields:
Application fields
- Home-based and telerehabilitation applications
- Prevention and training support for older adults
- Clinical and outpatient rehabilitation
User groups
- People with mobility impairments or rehabilitation needs
- Healthcare and therapy professionals
- Companies & start-ups in the rehabilitation and MedTech sector
- Policymakers in health and innovation
Impact scope
- Pilot projects in 5 Central European regions
- Transnational knowledge transfer via the RehAllianCE Competence Centre
- Scalability and replication across Europe
- RehAllianCE connects innovation with practical application, driving stronger, digital rehabilitation services across Europe.
Project partners
- GAPR – Upper Silesian Accelerator for Commercial Enterprises Ltd. (PL, Lead Partner)
- BioRegio STERN Management GmbH (DE)
- Pannon Business Network Association – PBN (HU)
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences – CUAS (AT)
- NSBPROJECT Venezia (IT)
- ProMIS – Programma Mattone Internazionale Salute (IT)