With the expansion of Fourier Intelligence continuing at pace globally, and its rehabilitation robotics being used increasingly around the world, its international presence has never been stronger.
But the true international nature of its business goes much further than the fact its technology is used around the globe.
Through partnering with key locations and teams around the world, tech unicorn Fourier is showing what is possible by working alongside and developing the expertise and resources beyond its bases in Shanghai, Malaysia and recently-acquired headquarters in Zhangjiang Science City, known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’.
And through such knowledge transfer between experts equally committed to delivering the means to improve people’s lives, Fourier’s mission to change what is possible in rehab robotics only increases.
Its partnership with the University of Melbourne, finalised in 2019, is a key component in its international expansion.
Through the creation of the Robotics Laboratory, a joint initiative between the University and Fourier, the opportunities for innovation – and with it, opportunities for aspiring talent from across the continent – are being channelled into increasing rehab provision on an international scale.
ArmMotus EMU
Led by Professor Denny Oetomo, a world-renowned figure in robotics, it played a leading role in the development and launch of the ArmMotus EMU – Fourier’s latest and next-gen robot, hailed as having the potential to redefine neurorehab.
Working closely with Fourier experts in Singapore and Shanghai, the partnership enabled the EMU project, which had been in development for two years, to come to fruition and act as a beacon of what could be achieved through close co-operation on an international basis.
And with a growing portfolio of robots – more than 20 are already commercially available, accruing over 10 million usage hours so far, with a further 100 in development – and more recently-established global partnerships including with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago propelling its presence in the United States, Fourier’s success in Melbourne is clearly a winning formula.
“I have always believed in a collaborative approach, there are no barriers or boundaries with technology, we are all humans on the same planet,” says Zen Koh, co-founder of Fourier Intelligence.
“It is vital that we work with universities and hospitals to develop our technology further, for the benefit of patients and their rehabilitation.
“The partnerships with Melbourne and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab are our first success stories and this is just the beginning. There will be more collaboration and hopefully, by working together, humankind can push the boundaries further.
“With Melbourne, this success sends a strong signal of how well we can work collaboratively, we can offer a very attractive arrangement – IP, technology, the strength of the Fourier supply chain, high-quality manufacturing at a low price.
“We have that capability already in place – for others it would take years to develop, it may be successful, it may not. Fourier is sending a very strong signal to the world that we welcome such collaboration and can, through technology and knowledge transfer, bring ideas into reality.”
For Prof Oetomo, the formation of the partnership works very well on a practical level.
“This agreement has enabled us to work together on something much more than just a project, more than a Memorandum of Understanding. In this case, we signed an umbrella agreement which built a working relationship and a commitment to work together,” says Prof Oetomo, who studied as a postgraduate with Zen.
“This included an IP agreement, the ability to design code, to collaborate on design. We ensured we eliminated a lot of the proprietary red tape from the very beginning. We’re all in this for the same reason – to help people’s lives – so we want to make doing that as simple as possible.
“So now, if we are working together on design and we need a part modifying, we can ask for the code for that. Or if they’re working on something and it’s easier to modify that in Shanghai, we can send the code.
“We have built an open relationship, where we know and understand each other on both sides. Fourier are not so much a startup anymore, they’re a strong and successful partner who support us at the University.”
Professor Denny Oetomo
And through its close collaboration across the miles, its first project, the ArmMotus EMU, has become a key new addition to the global neurorehab market.
As the world’s first 3D back-drivable upper limb rehabilitation robot – equipped with clinical intelligence and providing personalised therapy, technology-based solutions, coaching capabilities and remote monitoring – industry figures believe this has set a new benchmark for intelligent rehabilitation devices.
“Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays or regular therapy sessions which require close physical interactions between rehab professionals and patients,” says Zen.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation has challenged this model and as a result, many neurological patients are not receiving sufficient therapy. There is an urgent need to rethink conventional neurorehabilitation therapy.
“The new ArmMotus EMU provides that solution.”
The project, led by Prof Oetomo, saw close collaboration between teams in Singapore and Melbourne.
“What we do is so niche, it’s not well catered for, and we saw the opportunity here. The potential for what we can do has not yet been fully realised,” he says.
“This is 3D movement which can accentuate vertical motion, and the facility now exists to collect the information to support that. Combined with the appropriate gravity compensation of the weight of the arm, patients with weak or little arm function can able to carry out therapy without exertion.
“We did our research on this and have created something that addresses the points clinicians raise, such as they don’t have the time to work inaccessible equipment, or it’s too heavy to manage physically. If they don’t use it, then rehab for their patients is not going to happen.
Alex Gu and Zen Koh
“Something else we will be working on collaboratively is a training programme in how best to use our robots for clinicians, how you can use them to be more targeted and more useful in interdisciplinary work.
“Clinicians are our close colleagues as leading professionals in their field but we don’t want them to get this new technology and then have to read a robotic manual on how to use it, they want a clinical one. So that is another project we are working on together.”
With the success of the Robotics Laboratory partnership showing the potential of international working, the adoption of technology during the past two years in particular has shown many other businesses how effectively global working and co-operation can be done.
“The pandemic has indirectly propelled researchers to work via video conferencing, in the past this has not been fully embraced, but for us it is working well between our teams in Singapore, Shanghai, Zurich and America,” says Zen.
“Previously, we would have had people from all over the world coming to a single location. By using technology, we can move forward quicker than expected, video conferencing is very useful in discussions, negotiations and brainstorming – although it is very important to continue to meet face to face for the final decisions, to touch the products, feel them and understand them.
“But working remotely will continue to happen and I do think this has been a very, very positive point from the last two years, despite the pandemic, and we have all been able to move forward more innovatively.”
“Neurorehab tech is something we are working on as a whole world, and today the world is pretty small, there is a lot of online communication,” says Prof Oetomo.
“Our partnership would have happened anyway, we did a lot of face to face visits at first back in 2018 and 2019 to build the relationship, but the use of technology has helped.
“We have a network of close colleagues and we all talk with each other and share common equipment. It is much easier to run a multi-site test with the same robot and the same programme, then it can be more repeatable and easily comparable.
“A lot of facilities were already out there, the technology infrastructure was there, there was a lot of Cloud storage for our drawings which we were using before the pandemic – but for people all over the world, the circumstances forced them to use it.
“It may not necessarily be more enjoyable to always communicate virtually, or attend conferences that way, but it is much easier and that has a positive effect for sure. In the past, you’d invite a person to come out to Australia, and it would be a three or four day trip. Now, you can just dial them in and work around their time zone and that works fine.
“People are now more accepting of these practices, which I think will benefit joint working for everyone, including ourselves.”
