Local Bespoke Device Development: Nepal

Highly individual and customised needs are an area that global markets do not currently address well. This workstream is investigating how to support the development of local AT innovation ecosystems of assistive technology to address these gaps in service.

A set of individual cases will be supported to develop products within the present local AT ecosystem, pairing appropriate rehabilitation pathways with available local design and manufacturing expertise. The case studies are chosen to address an individual user need with a clear view to how the local ecosystem can address these throughout product development and the user-device lifecycle.

One advantage of locally produced devices is the availability of expertise and components for repair and design adaptation. Users will be tracked over an extended period to understand how to effectively facilitate these and other service elements of local provision. How to achieve quality throughout these processes is of high importance, as well as understanding how global expertise, both institutional and from peer communities, can efficiently enable innovation.