The project SPAST-SENSE has been selected for funding after its participation in the Nexus Social 2026 program. This recognition represents a significant milestone for the project, as it will allow it to continue its mission of developing an assessment tool for post-stroke spasticity.

Nexus Social—an initiative promoted by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the Fundació Caixa d’Enginyers – Fundación Caja Ingenieros, and the Impact Hub Network—aims to accelerate high‑impact social innovation projects capable of contributing to an “Engineering Hub for society.” SPAST‑SENSE was chosen among ten projects distinguished for their strong potential to generate meaningful social impact.

SPAST-SENSE focuses on the inclusive and accessible assessment of post-stroke spasticity to help reduce inequalities in rehabilitation. The project proposes a novel methodology for the objective assessment of spasticity in post-stroke individuals by using a wearable exoskeleton capable of executing standardized motion protocols and capturing biomechanical data. By addressing the limitations of current clinical scales, SPAST-SENSE aims to provide more reliable, reproducible, and quantitative measurements, contributing to a more objective evaluation process in rehabilitation.

The project team includes Prof. Massimo Cenciarini, Ph.D. (PI), PhD Student Laia Yébenes Serra, and Prof. Josep Maria Font Llagunes from the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS) at UPC-BarcelonaTech.