Ukrainians presented VRNOW — a virtual reality method for the rehabilitation of military personnel and civilians who have lost limbs — at an international MedTech conference held on July 6 in Patras, Greece. The development attracted strong interest from participants as a practical solution already actively used in Ukrainian rehabilitation centers during the full-scale war.

The presentation was delivered by the company’s CEO, Artem Chyhyrynskyi, who not only demonstrated the functional capabilities of the VR simulator but also took part in a panel discussion with the Advisor to the Minister of Health of Serbia. The central topic of discussion was the role of technology in transforming healthcare systems and their ability to be quickly implemented in real-world practice.

The conference brought together experts from across the EU — including Greece, Germany, Romania, and Poland — and served as a platform for dialogue between governments, businesses, healthcare professionals, and the scientific community. Special attention was given to the development of medical R&D centers, the creation of practical technologies for clinical use, and the introduction of digital tools into healthcare. It was particularly emphasized that Ukraine holds significant potential for growth in this field.

As part of the Ukrainian presentation, the focus was on the practical experience of using VR for rehabilitation during wartime — specifically for soldiers with amputations, musculoskeletal injuries, and post-traumatic conditions. VRNOW is one of the few VR products developed in close collaboration with rehabilitation specialists and tested in Ukrainian medical facilities during the full-scale war.

“We face an enormous demand for rehabilitation and, at the same time, have the experience of rapidly implementing high-tech solutions in medicine. We can become Europe’s R&D hub in this field,” — noted Artem Chyhyrynskyi during the discussion.

Why This Matters

• Ukraine offers the EU market practical innovations tested under crisis conditions.
  Technologies developed in wartime are stress-tested by both scale and time. Their effectiveness has been proven not in laboratories, but in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. This gives Ukrainian solutions unique value — they are ready to be scaled and adapted to other healthcare systems.
• Ukraine is shifting from being a recipient of aid to a full-fledged partner.
  At the conference, the Ukrainian delegation did not simply share its experience — it offered solutions that European partners have already shown interest in. This marks a change in Ukraine’s role on the global technology map: from receiver to provider of innovation.
• Rehabilitation will be a key issue for Europe for years to come.
  With an aging population, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a growing number of post-traumatic syndromes (particularly among displaced people and military personnel), EU countries are searching for effective, accessible, and technology-driven approaches to long-term therapy. Ukrainian expertise in physical and cognitive rehabilitation could form the basis of new European protocols.

The strong interest from the international audience in Ukrainian developments confirms: Ukraine is not only capable of responding to global challenges but also of shaping new standards in the European healthcare system.

VRNOW is a vivid example of how technology can make the rehabilitation process more accessible, more effective, and more human-centered.