Abstract: There are more than 30 million individuals in the world living with mobility challenges and only 1 in 10 have access to the prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) devices they need to allow them to walk.
Jerry will be discussing how Nia Technologies Inc. (Nia) is leveraging 3D printing to increase the efficiency of P&O device production in resource poor countries. The hope is that Nia’s innovations will allow existing orthopaedic workshops to help more people.
Starting four years ago as a simple proof-of-concept research/development collaboration between cbm Canada and U of T, Nia is now a stand-alone non-profit social enterprise. Nia continues to work with its partners to further develop its 3D digital tools for the P&O industry, known as 3D PrintAbility.
With the support of Grand Challenges Canada, Google.org, Autodesk Foundation and others, Nia has successfully completed the largest-ever clinical study of 3D printed prosthetics and orthotics (in Uganda, Tanzania and Cambodia) and is now scaling up and preparing to deploy 3D PrintAbility in a number of countries.
Bio: Jerry graduated from U of T with a BASc and a MASc in Civil Engineering. He went on to get his MBA from UWO. Jerry has spent most of his professional career working in finance, corporate strategy and governance. Today he is CEO of Nia and travels extensively in support of Nia’s efforts.
