IE University and Asociación Inserta Innovación, part of Grupo Social Once, Launch Robotics and AI Research Project to Increase the Autonomy of People with Disabilities

IE University and Asociación Inserta Innovación, part of Grupo Social Once, have signed a collaboration agreement to advance ROBOASIS-IA, an applied research project aimed at improving the autonomy and quality of life of people with disabilities through robotic technology and artificial intelligence linked to cyber-physical systems.

The project puts forward practical solutions to address users’ needs by researching specific use cases. Its goal is to explore the impact of advanced robotics and AI in assisting people with disabilities and older adults, primarily in domestic and residential environments.

This research is led by teams from IE CyPhy Life and the IE Robotics Lab, part of IE School of Science and Technology at IE University, working alongside experts from the Grupo Social Once, through Asociación Inserta Innovación, to design assistive robotic solutions that progressively adapt to each person’s capabilities and preferences while in order to promote natural and intuitive interactions at home.

Almudena Alcaide Raya, PhD, Director of the R&D&I Department at Fundación ONCE, said "For us, the collaboration with IE University has been extremely valuable. It has provided us with a future-oriented and advanced perspective on robotics that we hadn’t considered until now. In addition, their clear and evident commitment to excellence and to impactful R&D&I will significantly enrich our joint project."

Margarita Velásquez, Global Head of Research Engagement and Funding Support at IE University, added: "This project reflects our commitment to purpose-driven research, capable of generating tangible social impact through scientific excellence and strategic collaboration. The partnership with Asociación Inserta Innovación, part of the Grupo Social Once, enables us to accelerate the development of advanced technological solutions that put people at the center, reinforcing our commitment to inclusive, transformative innovation."

This joint research project between IE University and Asociación Inserta Innovación reinforces the institutions shared commitment to technology and innovation in the service of inclusion. Both organizations embrace a pragmatic and disruptive approach, grounded in the belief that applied research and experimentation in real-world settings are the best tools for modernizing care, while prioritizing autonomy and quality of life for people with disabilities and older adults.

"In ROBOASIS-IA, we have explored how AI can expand people’s capabilities. By combining new AI models with assistive robotics, we design more natural interactions where robots learn to adapt to people, and not the other way around," explained Eduardo Castelló Ferrer, Director of the IE CyPhy Life research group, Professor of Robotics at IE School of Science and Technology, and an MIT-affiliated researcher.

The project includes participation from Bachelor’s and Master’s students and researchers from IE School of Science and Technology, members of the IE Robotics & AI Lab, an innovation and hands-on learning space where advanced AI and robotics solutions are developed and prototyped.

This research has been financed by Asociación Inserta Innovación (part of the Grupo Social Once) through ELBA RESEARCH, A.I.E., within the project ROBOASIS.