Open Bionics

Short description: UK prostethic limb manufacturer

Open Bionics

Type| Private company
Industry| Medical devices, healthcare
Headquarters|

Bristol

United Kingdom

Key people

* Joel Gibbard MBE CEO
* Samantha Payne MBE COO

Products| 3D printed bionic prosthetics
Website| www.openbionics.com

Open Bionics is a UK-based company that develops low-cost, 3D printed bionic arms for amputees with below elbow amputations. Their bionic arms are fully functional with lights, bio feedback vibrations and different functions that allow the user to grab, pinch, high-five, fist bump and thumbs-up. The company is based inside Future Space, co-located with Bristol Robotics Laboratory.[1] The company was founded in 2014 by Joel Gibbard MBE and Samantha Payne MBE.

In 2020 Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne were awarded MBEs for their services to Innovation, Engineering, and Technology.

A 3D printed Star Wars bionic hand by Open Bionics in collaboration with ILM XLab.

## Contents

* 1 Partnerships
* 2 Funding
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Partnerships

In 2015, Disney and Open Bionics announced a partnership to create superhero-themed prosthetics for young amputees.[2] In the same year, the company won the 2015 James Dyson Award in the UK for innovative engineering [3][4] and Tech4Good's 2015 Accessibility Award.[5][6] In 2016, it won a Bloomberg Business Innovators award.[7][8]

In January 2019, James Cameron and 20th Century Fox partnered with Open Bionics to give 13-year-old double amputee Tilly Lockey a pair of Alita-inspired bionic Hero Arms for the London premiere of Alita: Battle Angel.[9] Lockey lost both of her hands when she contracted meningococcal septicemia at 15 months of age.[10]

In 2020, Open Bionics partnered with gaming company Konami to create 'Venom Snake' Hero Arm covers, which are featured in the 2015 video game Metal Gear Solid V.[11]

In 2023, Open Bionics collaborated with Ukraine charity Superhumans Center to fit Ukrainian soldiers with bionic Hero Arms as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine[12]

## Funding

In January 2019, Open Bionics raised Series A funding of $5.9 million.[13][14] The round was led by Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, Ananda Impact Ventures and Downing Ventures, with participation from F1's Williams Advanced Engineering Group among others.[15][16]

## References

1. ↑ "Future Space Case Studies - Open Bionics". https://www.futurespacebristol.co.uk/2016/09/14/open-bionics/.
2. ↑ "Open Bionics and Disney release Star Wars, Iron Man and Frozen themed prosthetics". Wired UK. https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-10/13/disney-open-bionics-prosthetics. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
3. ↑ "Open Bionics 3D-printed robotic hand wins Dyson Award". Wired UK. https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-08/25/open-bionics-james-dyson-award. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
4. ↑ "Open Bionics robotic hand for amputees wins Dyson Award" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2015-08-24. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34044453.
5. ↑ "Winners 2015 - Tech4Good Awards" (in en-US). http://www.tech4goodawards.com/winners-2015/.
6. ↑ Balch, Oliver (2015-07-31). "A bionic hand in five days: how tech innovation is changing lives" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jul/31/3d-printed-limbs-listening-apps-disability-tech-changing-lives.
7. ↑ "Open Bionics - Bloomberg Business Innovators". https://www.bloomberg.com/ukinnovators/innovators/open-bionics/.
8. ↑ "Open Bionics: Diese neuen Armprothesen machen aus Kindern Superhelden" (in de-DE). 2019-10-01. https://www.mobilegeeks.de/artikel/open-bionics-diese-neuen-armprothesen-machen-aus-kindern-superhelden/.
9. ↑ "Man Born Without Arm Given Bionic Limb Inspired By Metal Gear Solid" (in en). https://www.unilad.co.uk/technology/man-born-without-arm-given-bionic-limb-inspired-by-metal-gear-solid/.
10. ↑ "Alita: Battle Angel Bionic Arms For Tilly". Open Bionics. https://openbionics.com/alita/. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
11. ↑ [1][|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
12. ↑ "Ukraine war: 'I'm going back to the frontline with my bionic arm'" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2023-04-14. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65145482.
13. ↑ "Open Bionics closes $5.9M Series A for its affordable and cool bionic limbs" (in en-US). https://social.techcrunch.com/2019/01/14/open-bionics-closes-5-9m-series-a-for-its-affordable-and-cool-bionic-limbs/.
14. ↑ "Open Bionics raises $5.9 million to make affordable 3D printed bionic limbs" (in en-US). 2019-01-11. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/open-bionics-raises-5-9-million-to-make-affordable-3d-printed-bionic-limbs-146878/.
15. ↑ Cook, James (2019-10-04). "Tej Kohli: The Indian tech billionaire who plans to turbocharge Britain's start-up scene" (in en-GB). The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/10/04/tej-kohli-indian-tech-billionaire-plans-turbocharge-britains/.
16. ↑ Baker, Hannah (2019-01-15). "Bristol 'superhero' arm-making company lands multi-million deal" (in en). https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/business/bristol-superhero-arm-making-company-2425775.

## External links

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