WearRAcon Europe

The Leading Conference for Wearable Robotics in Europe

WearRAcon Europe is the European edition of the WearRAcon Conference, organized biennially by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) and the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF), in close collaboration with the global exoskeleton interest group, the Wearable Robotics Association (WearRA) based in Phoenix, Arizona (USA).

The conference aims to showcase the latest findings, trends, and innovations in wearable robotics across Europe, with a particular focus on occupational exoskeletons. It seeks to facilitate interactions among professionals in wearable robotics, industry end-users, academic experts, and representatives from governmental agencies. A new feature for the 2025 edition will be the inclusion of digital ergonomics tools and their integration with exoskeleton deployment and ergonomic workplace design.

The WearRAcon Europe Conference will provide valuable insights into the evolving world of exoskeleton systems and digital ergonomic tools from various perspectives. In conjunction with the A+A Congress, it will set future-oriented impulses, offering an ideal platform for scientific and industry-focused discourse.

At a Glance

November 5–6, 2025
Conference Language: English
Location: CCD Congress Center, 1^st floor, room 2
Tickets: Ticket for the A+A Congress is needed

Discover the conference program now!

Explore the highlights of WeaRAcon Europe and get ready for A+A 2025.

Certification:

This year, for the first time, amongst others basic courses are being offered for ergonomists, disability, safety and health managers who would like to learn more about exoskeletons in the workplace and their use in practice. Therefore and for the whole conference you will receive credit points from Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV) (approved, 10 CDMP-hours for two days, 7 for one day) and VDSI - Verband für Sicherheit, Gesundheit und Umweltschutz bei der Arbeit (approved, day 1 (5.11.) 2 VDSI-points: 1 A + 1 G, day 2 (06.11.), 2 VDSI-points: 1 A + 1 G) for attending and learning on the conference!

A sneak peek of WearRAcon:

KEYNOTES:

Generalizable human-robot interfacing: towards bio-protective robotic technologies
Prof. Massimo Sartori, University of Twente

Data-driven and digital ergonomics tools – Current trends and rationale for enhancing the understanding of pathogenic factors
Urban Daub, Fraunhofer IPA

SPEAKERS:

Design of active exoskeletons: lessons learned from over 10 years of research, development and assessment

Prof. Tom Verstraten, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Assessing the impact of exoskeletons for industrial applications

Dr. Jesús Ortiz, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Acceptance of Occupational Exoskeletons; The big challenge

Israel A. Benavides Sosa, Ford Motor Company

Towards a better understanding of exoskeleton acceptance

Dr. Shirley Elprama, imec - SMIT - VUB/ FARI Brussels

From Burden to Benefit: What Makes Exoskeletons Useful to Workers

Dr. Sandra Maria Siedl, Johannes Kepler University Linz

Field Evaluation of Industrial Wearable Exoskeletons Through Integrative Methods in Real-World Environments

Dr. Sungwoo Park, Hyundai Motor Company

Exoskeleton Studies with Motion-Mining

Dr. Rene Grzeszick, MotionMiners GmbH

Eso-EAWS 2.0 Certification: Integrating exoskeleton use into biomechanical risk assessment

Dr. Mattia Antonelli, Fondazione ERGO-MTM Italia; Dr. Huan Xu, Politecnico di Milano

Exoskeletons in Construction: Validation in Relevant Environment

Dr. Christian Di Natali, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Insights from short- and long-term field studies of an upper-limb passive exoskeleton

Dr. Simona Crea, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

The ROI Case: Unpacking the Latest Evidence on Exosuits Boosting Performance and Reducing Workplace Injuries

Prof. Karl Zelik, Vanderbilt University | HeroWear

Exoskeletons in a Military Context

Minke Geerts, TNO

Evaluating Shoulder Exoskeletons in Aircraft Assembly: A Longitudinal Field Study on Biomechanical and Ergonomic Impacts

Dr. Kai Heinrich, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance

Exploring the Integration of Exoskeletons in Organizational Settings

Marisol Barrero, Vibrantz Technologies

Designing Industrial Exoskeletons for Better User Acceptance

Dr. Volker Bartenbach, Auxivo AG

Characterizing the physical human-exoskeleton interaction

Jonas Schiebl, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA

ASTM Standards at Work: How They’re Powering the Exoskeleton Market

Nora Nimmerichter, Sara Gobbi, ASTM International

Toward Effective Control Strategies for Powered Exoskeletons

Dr. Mohamed Bouri, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Exoskeletons for people with severe disabilities

Manja Ehmke, LVR, Frank, Schrapper, LWL

Experience exoskeletons live at A+A

Foto: Ein Mann, der ein Exoskelett trägt und damit überkopfarbeiten ausführt.

The wide range of wearable robitics at A+A is complemented by the Exo Park. Here, renowned exhibitors will present their exoskeletons. You can find out more about the products and the technology behind them from the experts on site.

The conference will be supplemented by a wide variety of products and solutions on display at the trade fair and two further exciting areas in the Exo Park: like at the previous A+A, a Self-Experience Space will again be set up so that the exoskeleton systems of various manufacturers can be tested in realistic work scenarios.

In parallel with the Self-Experience Space, the large live study EXOWORKATHLON will also take place again. Trainees from various mechatronic training courses have to complete a concourse and perform holding, lifting and assembling tasks, which have been specially developed with the industry. Data is prospectively collected with different measuring sensors to measure the effects of exoskeletons.

In the EXOWORKATHLON, the IPA focuses especially on prevention for young employees in order to raise awareness of the issue and counteract ailments at an early stage.

Insights of WearRAcon 2023

Did you miss WearRAcon 2023? No problem! We've got you covered. We attended the WearRAcon Conference for you—get a glimpse of the event and hear directly from some of the participants.