In Munich, a startup called Munevo had developed a smart wheelchair control system, munevo DRIVE, which hit the market in 2019. This system is controlled by users with head gestures giving those with severe muscle diseases more mobility and independence.

“We’re focusing on people who are not able to use their hands to control the wheelchair, but only their heads,” says Konstantin Madaus, one of the three co-founders. “Some even lose that function over time, with a disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.”

In 2023, Munevo was one of the 15 finalists in the European Investment Bank Institute’s Social Innovation Tournament,  which recognises startups that are making a positive impact socially, ethically, or environmentally. Read the full story here.

We will continue presenting the finalists of the SIT 2023 so stay tuned!