Workshop – Assistive Robotics
Workshop Summary
On May 8, 2025, the Innovation Booster – Robotics co-hosted with Innovation Booster Silver Aging a full-day workshop at Campus Biotech, Geneva, dedicated to exploring how assistive robotics can improve the autonomy, well-being, and care of older adults—both at home and in care institutions. Participants from healthcare, research, and technology sectors co-developed concrete ideas around key societal challenges, with a strong emphasis on user-centered innovation.
Identified Challenges
Robotics for Institutions
- How can robotics reduce administrative burden without compromising human-centered care?
- How can we ensure privacy and data sovereignty in robotic systems used in care institutions?
- How can we address the acceptance of humanoid robots among caregivers and residents?
- What is the right balance between safety, autonomy, and dignity in robot-assisted care?
- Which repetitive tasks can be delegated to robots to free up healthcare professionals’ time
Robotics for individuals
- How can technology support mobility and fall prevention at home?
- How can robotic solutions reduce social isolation and cognitive decline through simple interactions?
- How can we simplify the use of digital tools for non-tech-savvy older adults?
- How can we design accessible interactions (avoiding touchscreens) for users with cognitive impairments
- How can we encourage physical activity and daily autonomy through gamified or robotic aids ?
Proposed Solutions
Robotics in Care Institutions
- Deploy robots to assist with repetitive administrative tasks (e.g., transcription, object handling).
- Implement secure systems ensuring data privacy and local storage (e.g., in Switzerland).
- Design robots to support caregivers without replacing human interaction.
- Integrate robotic therapy to reduce medication usage and manage cognitive decline.
- Develop clear frameworks to define robot autonomy and supervision boundaries.
Robotics for Independent Living
- Use fall-monitoring robots linked to smartwatches or motion sensors to alert caregivers.
- Track and analyze mobility evolution to adapt care plans and stimulate physical activity.
- Design adaptive tools using metamaterials to assist with household tasks.
- Create voice-based AI agents for companionship, memory assistance, and daily structure.
- Promote simple, touchscreen-free robotic solutions for users with cognitive limitations.
Broader Impact Areas
- Support aging in place through safe, accessible, and personalized robotic solutions.
- Address digital divide by training users and professionals on emerging assistive technologies.
- Encourage ethical innovation respecting dignity, privacy, and autonomy of older adults.
- Enhance intergenerational inclusion through collaborative tech design and playful learning spaces.
The workshop brought together over 50 participants and generated more than 20 challenge statements and 15 concrete solution ideas. These results underline the transformative potential of assistive robotics in addressing demographic, healthcare, and social inclusion challenges.
About the Event
📅 Date: 8th of May 2025
📍 Location: Chem. des Mines 9, 1202 Genève, Campus Biotech, Room B1 06
*The seminars will be held in French.
Registration Closed
Thank you for your interest. Registration for the Assistive Robotics event on May 8, 2025, is now closed — but feel free to send us a message if you’d still like to attend.
Innovation Booster Robotics, in collaboration with Innovation Booster Silver Ageing, is organizing an Ideate & Enrich workshop on assistive robotics for the elderly population. The event will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Biotech Campus in Geneva. This interactive session will bring together experts and researchers to explore key challenges and innovative solutions in the field of assistive robotics.
Overview
Technology for everyone. When humans guide innovation. On the agenda: experience sharing, demonstrations, collective reflection, and co-creation of concrete solutions focused on robotics in the service of aging and autonomy.
Agenda
- 09:30 – 10:00 Welcome & Introduction to the Innovation Boosters
- 10:00 – 11:00 Session 1: Assistive Robotics – For Institutions
- Dr. Emmanuel Senft | Research Scientist and Leader of the Human-Centered Robotics and AI Group at IDIAP Research Institute
- Prof. Yulia Sandamirskaya | Professor and Head of a Research Centre Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
- Luigi Corrado, Director of residences at Résidences Prendre Soin et Accompagner(RPSA)
- Laëtitia Gosetto | Research Scientist and Leader of the EvaLab at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)
- 11:00 – 12:00 Session 2: Assistive Robotics – For Individuals
- Prof. Andres Perez Uribe | Professor of Applied Sciences, Head of the Competence Group Intelligent Data Analysis, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO) and Dr. Yasaman Izadmehr | Collaborator Ra&D at HEIG-VD
- Dr. Luca Randazzo | CEO Emovo (robotic hand exoskeleton)
- Lixuan Tang | Ph.D. Candidate, Distributed and assistive robotics, BioRobotics Laboratory EPFL
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch and Exhibition
- 13:30 – 15:00 Seminar: Key Challenges
- 15:00 – 16:00 Seminar: Idea Generation
- 16:00 – 16:30 Summary & Conclusions
- 16:30 – 17:00 Networking Apéro
Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We look forward to an engaging and productive day!
