VUB spin-off Axiles Bionics takes the stage in the Belgian Pavilion, representing VUB innovation on a global scale.
From 13 April to 13 October 2025, Japan hosts Expo 2025 Osaka, where over 150 countries converge around the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Among the contributors in the Belgian Pavilion is Axiles Bionics, a spin-off of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and a proud representative of Brussels' strength in medical technology.
Founded in 2019, Axiles Bionics was born out of years of robotics and AI research at the VUB BruBotics research group. The company combines biomechanics, AI, and advanced robotics to develop smart robotic ankle-foot prostheses that restore a natural gait and posture for individuals with lower-limb amputations.
Its flagship product, the Lunaris prosthetic foot, is now centre stage in the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025. Through its innovative approach, Lunaris mimics the natural motion of the human ankle and provides real-time, intuitive responsiveness, effectively compensating for lost muscle function.
“We are honoured to be part of this international showcase. Expo 2025 is an opportunity to present prosthetic technology that puts people first. Devices like Lunaris are not just tools... they are enablers of confidence, autonomy, and dignity.” — Pierre Cherelle (CEO and founder of Axiles Bionics).
Cherelle's team has worked for nearly two decades to redefine what orthopaedic prosthetics can be. With prosthetics that improve energy efficiency, stability, and movement across a variety of terrains, Axiles Bionics is not just producing medical devices; it is reshaping human mobility.
Set on Yumeshima Island, the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 was designed while drawing inspiration from 'Kintsugi', the Japanese art of visible repair. In this metaphor of healing, Axiles Bionics’ work resonates deeply, empowering individuals not by concealing difference, but by enabling them to walk forward with strength, resilience, and dignity.
Read more in the articles by BRUZZ and Axiles Bionics.