BionicM (Jianxing Bionics) Secures Tens of Millions in RMB Financing Led by NEC Capital to Accelerate Global Expansion of Smart Powered Prosthetics

As spring warms and all things flourish, the field of rehabilitation robotics welcomes significant news.

VCBeat has learned at the earliest opportunity that a rising star in intelligent powered prostheticsBionicM (Jianxing Bionics)Recently CompletedTens of millions of RMBFinancing. A wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC CapitalNVenture Capital As the lead investor in this financing round. The investors also includeincluding Shinsei Corporate Investment, UTokyo Innovation Platform (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Tokyo), Kiraboshi Capital, Chiba Bank Capital, AIS CAPITAL, as well as individual investors Mr. Yoshitsune Ido, former CEO of Anker Japan, and Mr. Hao Yan, Chairman of EPS Holdings。

Dr. Sun Xiaojun, CEO of BionicM, stated that the funds raised will be primarily allocated to three areas: first, expanding sales of its flagship intelligent powered prosthetic robot, Bio Leg (Baiou), and its mainstream version, Cybo Leg (Saibo); second, developing next-generation intelligent powered prosthetic robots and initiating R&D in gait motion sensing and gait assistance technologies; and third, strengthening organizational structure to accelerate business growth. The company will leverage the newly secured funding to further expand its product presence in the global market.

The company is currently preparing its FDA application and is expected to enter the U.S. market next year.. At this stage, we have already begun negotiations with U.S. distributors regarding potential collaboration. After trying on and experiencing the product, they provided highly favorable evaluations and expressed strong interest.

BionicM (Jianxing Bionics) is an international company dedicated to enhancing personal mobility through intelligent wearable robotics. By leveraging the University of Tokyo’s world-leading humanoid robot technology and achieving seamless integration with the human body, it has developed a new generation of intelligent powered prosthetic robots.The company was established in Japan and China in 2018, with simultaneous operations in Tokyo and Shenzhen.

It is understood that most prosthetic limbs currently available on the global market are non-powered. The lack of powered assistance in these devices places a significant physical burden on users and often restricts their daily activities. With the number of lower-limb amputees worldwide continuing to rise, there is a growing need for high-end prosthetic solutions to improve mobility and quality of life. Globally, there are approximately 12 million lower-limb amputees, representing a market size of around $6 billion.

In 2021, BionicM launched the flagship Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthesis in Japan and China. This marked the first high-end intelligent powered prosthesis developed, manufactured, and sold by an Asian company, breaking the long-standing monopoly of European and American prosthetic companies in the high-end market. The R&D of the intelligent powered prosthetic robot began in 2015 at the JSK Robotics Laboratory of the University of Tokyo. In 2018, research and production were formally conducted under the name of BionicM. After ten generations of prototype iterations, the Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthetic robot entered mass production and sales in 2021, taking its first step toward the market.

Bio Leg Product Launch Event (October 2021, Beijing, China)

Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthetic limbs effectively reduce the physical burden on users by replacing muscle strength lost due to amputation with prosthetic power, enabling a more natural gait, thereby improving quality of life and facilitating greater participation in daily activities.

 User Testimonials: Bio Leg (Baiou) Flagship Smart Powered Prosthetic

In October 2021, the Bio Leg (Baiou) was launched for the first time, attracting inquiries, trial fittings, and partnership discussions from industry professionals and prosthetic users both in China and abroad. Upon learning that many users reported regaining the sensation of walking with their natural limbs for the first time after years of amputation by wearing the Bio Leg (Baiou), Sun Xiaojun was moved to tears. This sentiment resonated deeply with his own inner feelings.

New technologies have granted users greater freedom, but they have also come with a high price tag. This has long been a source of distress for Sun Xiaojun. Hailing from a remote rural area, he understands all too well that amputation brings not only physical “pain” but also financial hardship. If the developed product is unaffordable for most people, it completely loses its value and purpose. Therefore, he and his team have been striving to leverage technological innovation to create a product whose performance rivals that of Bio Leg (Baiou), yet is priced affordably for more individuals with limb disabilities. Building on the technology and experience gained from Bio Leg (Baiou), and after more than a year of relentless efforts, they successfully met expectations by launching the Cybo Leg (Saibo) Standard Edition intelligent powered prosthetic in early February 2023. It is poised to become the most cost-effective intelligent powered prosthetic on the market.

Cybo Leg (Saibo) Standard Edition Intelligent Powered Prosthetic Limb

Traditional gait analysis requires the use of motion capture systems and force plates in indoor settings. Data such as knee joint angles, hip joint angles, and ground reaction forces can only be acquired when measurement equipment is available indoors, making it difficult to obtain movement data from daily outdoor activities.

Currently, the Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthetic limb is equipped with multiple sensors, enabling it to collect motion data from users anytime and anywhere, without limitations of location or time. The collected motion data is utilized for rehabilitation training and gait analysis, facilitating visualization of the rehabilitation process. This provides valuable reference for prosthetists, physical therapists, and prosthetic users, thereby accelerating the rehabilitation training process.

The motor drive technology in the Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthesis is independently developed by BionicM. To meet the safety needs of prosthesis users in any scenario, it can instantly output high current to generate high torque. It features reverse voltage protection during back-driving and energy recovery functionality, with the electrical energy stored in an EDLC (Electric Double-Layer Capacitor).

The core motor drive technology developed for the Bio Leg intelligent powered prosthetic limb is expected to be applied in other robotics fields. By integrating motor drive technology with motors, robotic drive solutions can be provided.

“Empowering Mobility” is both the original aspiration and the corporate mission of BionicM. BionicM will accelerate collaboration with partners, expedite technology application and market promotion, enabling lower-limb amputees and individuals with mobility impairments to reap the sweet fruits of technological innovation.

Moving forward, BionicM will enter the U.S. market and conduct a new round of financing in the second half of this year.