Context & Vision

The BruBotics Rehabilitation Research Center was opened in 2022 with the purpose of bringing together rehabilitation researchers, clinicians, technology developers, and patients. 

The context

In recent decades, the number of rehabilitation technologies available on the market has been rising rapidly. New robotic solutions, augmented and virtual reality systems, serious games, neuromodulation techniques, and innovative treatment concepts are emerging all the time.

At the same time, the field of movement and neuromuscular biomechanics is evolving at high speed: advanced motion capture and 3D movement analysis, muscle physiology, and neuromechanical modelling now allow us to look far beyond functional outcomes and investigate how and why people move the way they do; in patients, but also in athletes and healthy individuals.

As these technologies and biomechanical insights become more widely available, the need for scientific evidence and expert guidance increases. There is a clear demand for validated methods and for infrastructure that allows movement and rehabilitation technologies to be tested under realistic and safe conditions, ranging from vulnerable patient groups to high-performance athletes.
 

The Vision

Our vision is to establish a leading rehabilitation research hub in the Brussels region that combines state-of-the-art technologies (robotics, AR/VR, serious gaming, neuromodulation) with advanced biomechanical and neuromuscular movement analysis.

Here, new technologies are developed, tested, and scientifically validated. Students and professionals receive training in how to use them, and technology developers can showcase and refine their innovations. Patients and athletes gain access to cutting-edge equipment, while researchers and clinicians collaborate closely to ensure that scientific progress translates into real-world impact.

As robotics and artificial intelligence evolve, the demand for intuitive, user-friendly rehabilitation solutions continues to grow. Creating the next generation of rehabilitation technologies requires a tight integration of engineering expertise, clinical insight, and deep understanding of human movement.

These observations directly led to the creation of the BruBotics Rehabilitation Research Center Core Facility, a unique environment where rehabilitation technology, neuromechanics, and human movement science are brought together in one integrated ecosystem.