Motorica, a fast-growing player in the upper-limb prosthetics market, has been expanding its footprint in India since opening its office in 2024. Kavinder Beniwal, who brings over two decades of sales leadership experience in the Indian medical devices industry, is spearheading the company’s growth in the country.
In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Beniwal spoke about a range of topics, including the company’s ambitious digital prosthetics programme and its advanced 'cyber-human' philosophy of integration. Excerpts:
Q: What were the key reasons Motorica decided to expand into India, and what do you see as the biggest opportunities for advanced prosthetic and rehabilitation technologies in the Indian health care ecosystem right now?
A: India represents one of the largest markets globally, with a population of about 1.42 billion. There are around 1.1 million amputees in the country who still lack access to proper solutions, and every year, 25,000–26,000 new amputations occur due to road accidents, cancer-related procedures, and other diseases. This clearly indicates both a significant need and a major opportunity.
With over 12 years of experience, we have developed a range of solutions—from myoelectric prosthetics to body-powered devices for young children and advanced bionic products. We are currently among the top three companies globally in upper-limb prosthetics. Since opening our office in Delhi in 2024, we have been directly supporting clinics and participating in government initiatives.
Q: In India’s rural and semi-urban regions, access remains a major barrier due to limited fitting centers of prosthetics and rehabilitation services. How does the digital-first approach help overcome these geographical challenges?
A: Traditionally, prosthetic fitting required 3D scanning and multiple visits, often forcing patients to stay in cities for several days, which can be expensive.
Our digital-first approach uses photogrammetry. We capture 10–12 images of the patient’s residual limb using a smartphone and create a precise 3D model centrally. This eliminates the need for repeated visits. The prosthetic is then manufactured and delivered directly to the patient. With India’s strong logistics network, we are now able to reach even remote regions.
Q: How many people have you served so far?
A: Globally, we have fitted over 10,000 prosthetic hands. In India, the number is around 2,000–2,200.
Q: Paediatric prosthetics is a unique strength for Motorica globally. How big an opportunity do you see in India for child-specific solutions, and what adaptations are you making for Indian children’s lifestyles and growth needs?
A: Paediatric prosthetics is a critical area. Many cases in children are congenital rather than due to accidents. The company provides lightweight, 3D-printed, body-powered prostheses for children starting at 2 years of age to keep their muscles active and prevent them from wasting away. These prostheses are highly customized with colourful designs—like Spider-Man, Avengers, or Chhota Bheem—to help children avoid feeling alienated or being bullied. Around the age of 15 or 16, patients can then transition to a bionic electric hand.
Q: What is your 'cyber human' philosophy of integration?
A: This philosophy focuses on 'cyberization', which means integrating technology to increase human capabilities and mimicking a real human hand as closely as possible. The company is currently conducting research in Russia and partnering with AIIMS Delhi to use spinal implants to bring actual physical sensations—such as cold, softness, and hardness—into the prostheses.
Q: Are there possibilities of integrating your innovations with Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)?
A: Yes, the current technology utilises spinal implants for vagus nerve and peripheral nervous system stimulation, but the ultimate vision is to merge with brain technology interfaces. The company envisions having brain-controlled prostheses for both hands and legs within the next few years.
Q: Could you tell us more about Motorica’s optical sensor technologies, particularly in the Omni Hand, and how they align with your ‘cyber-human’ philosophy of integration?
A: Traditional EMG sensors require precise placement to detect muscle firing and can be delayed by 'noise', but optical sensors eliminate this limitation as they do not rely on muscle activity. They provide more precise and accurate responses, making them much more suitable for fast integration into advanced bioengineering and neural interfaces.
Q: How are you balancing global quality standards with local affordability in India?
A: The company is utilizing a hybrid approach by partnering with a local joint venture for technology transfer to manufacture affordable myoelectric hands for the Indian market. They are also in advanced discussions to set up local manufacturing facilities—one potentially in the AMTZ medical device hub in Visakhapatnam, and another in North India—to eventually produce their entire portfolio locally.
Q: What are the next steps to scale up the digital prosthetics program?
A: The program has already been rolled out to over 35 partners in India, with a goal of reaching 100+ partners by the end of the year. Because traditional 3D scanners are expensive (costing 3 to 5 lakhs), the smartphone-based digital 3D modeling approach allows smaller clinics in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to participate without heavy investments, significantly expanding patient access beyond metro cities.
Q: Do you offer prosthetic legs in addition to forearms?
A: The current manufacturing capacity is targeted mainly at upper-limb (hand) prostheses. However, local manufacturing for legs has started in Russia, and they are working with partners in Turkey to address requirements for lower limbs.
Q: What challenges did you face when bringing this technology to the Indian market?
A: While leveraging the BRICS forum smoothed regulatory relations with Russia, explaining the European technology transfer model to secure CDSCO registration was an initial challenge. We are focusing strongly on patient education. Many patients go through significant psychological upheaval after losing a limb—it is not easy to cope with such a loss. The initial phase is often denial, and acceptance takes time.
To address this, we work with experts who have developed rehabilitation programmes for patients dealing with such trauma. Research shows that losing a limb can be as emotionally painful as losing a loved one. Our efforts are therefore aimed at both awareness and holistic rehabilitation.
We have also worked on strengthening our partner network. In the early stages, there was some hesitation among local partners, as we were a Russian company and they were unsure about the level of support. To address this, we established our largest service centre for Asia in India, positioning the country as a hub.
We now provide service support within 48 hours. Since these prosthetics are electronic devices, occasional issues can arise. In such cases, we ensure quick repairs and return, or provide backup prosthetics so that the patient’s mobility is not disrupted.