Lecture on bionic prostheses at the Politecnico di Torino
Date of the event:
On 30 October 2026 the Politecnico di Torino hosted a lecture on the evolution of bionic prostheses for third-year Biomedical Engineering students, with the participation of Paralympic athlete Matteo Cattini and the Officina Ortopedica Maria Adelaide.
On 30 October 2026 the Politecnico di Torino hosted a lecture on the evolution of bionic prostheses, addressed to third-year students of the Biomedical Engineering degree programme. The meeting addressed how technology can improve quality of life and foster the independence of amputees [1][2].
The meeting
The lecture was attended by Matteo Cattini, an athlete who competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and has been an ambassador for the Italian Paralympic Committee since 2019. Born in Mantua in 1984, Cattini lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2008 and has won ten gold medals at the Italian Para Powerlifting Championships [1][2]. In his talk he described his own path: "There are no miracle recipes, but I could count on my family, true friends and my very strong will to keep living" [1].
The meeting was also attended by the Officina Ortopedica Maria Adelaide, the only centre in Piedmont accredited for the Genium X4 bionic knee. The company also presented the Zeus bionic hand, which students were able to try out using a simulator [1][2].
The collaboration with the Politecnico
The initiative is part of a multi-year collaboration between the Politecnico and the Officina Maria Adelaide, within the Mechanical Bioengineering course taught by Cristina Bignardi, of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) [1][2]. The lecturer has worked with the company since the early 1990s on teaching and research projects, and noted that "the evolution of prostheses for amputees, whether of the lower or the upper limb, is rapid and continuous" [2].
For Roberto Ariagno, director of the Officina Ortopedica Maria Adelaide, the initiative helps strengthen the dialogue between university and business, showing future engineers the concrete applications of their skills [1].
Related articles: Matteo Cattini, Politecnico di Torino
Sources
- Politecnico, le protesi bioniche entrano in aula: incontro con un atleta paralimpico — ANSA Piemonte, 30 October 2026
- Il campione di Para Powerlifting Matteo Cattini ospite al Politecnico — Il Torinese, 1 November 2026
Similar entries
- Matteo Cattini Person