About A-FOOTPRINT

Disabling foot and ankle conditions affect approximately 200 million European citizens. Over €300 million per annum is spent treating many of these people with orthoses and splints, often relying on hand-crafted manufacturing techniques which are slow, costly and difficult to reproduce.  The overall objective is to develop novel ankle/foot and foot orthoses for common disabling conditions which are cost-effective, high-speed to market, and personalised for form and function.

The A-FOOTPRINT approach will automate processes to speed up the manufacture, delivery and supply of personalised devices exploiting digital scanning, computer-aided design and rapid manufacturing.  Novel devices will be developed which are cost-effective, yet personalised to provide better fit and comfort and functional performance.

The consortium is a collaboration of 12 partners across 7 EU member states, comprising leading orthotic and enabling technology SME's, clinical and academic research centres and large enterprise.  With a strong focus on research for the direct benefit of SME's, the project will enable them to further develop their expertise and become international leaders with strong competitive advantages. The consortium consists of 6 SMEs, 5 academic institutions, and 1 industrial partner.

Key facts

• Start Date: 01/10/2009
• End Date: 30/09/2013
• Duration: 48 months
• Grant Agreement Number: NMP2-SE-2009-228893
• Total Cost: €5,306,678
• EC Contribution: €3,729, 043