Developing a fully implantable, battery-free brain-computer interface for real-time decoding of speech and movement.

ABILITY Neurotech

Geneva (Campus Biotech, CH)New on Amplifa

2025Founded (spin-out from the Wyss Center)

11-50Employees

GenevaLocation at Campus Biotech

< 5 mmImplant height

128ECoG channels

About ABILITY Neurotech

ABILITY Neurotech is a medical technology company based at Campus Biotech in Geneva, spun out of the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering. The company is developing a fully implantable, battery-free brain-computer interface (BCI) that transmits complete raw neural signal data wirelessly through the skin. The platform comprises four components: the implant with highly sensitive ECoG electrodes (up to 128 channels) in a hermetically sealed titanium housing under 5 mm in height, a magnetically coupled headpiece, an external processor, and a mobile app. A patented laser-based optical data link transmits the signals losslessly at up to 50 Mbps through intact skin, with no battery in the implant — power is supplied inductively. AI-based decoding algorithms convert brain signals into speech and movement commands in real time. Clinical partners are TUM University Hospital Rechts der Isar (Munich), UMC Utrecht, TU Graz and the Wyss Center; first chronic implantations in ALS patients are in preparation.

Site: Geneva
Processes: End-to-end BCI platform (implant, headpiece, processor, app), Neural signal processing and decoding, AI-based real-time decoding of speech and movement
Materials: Titanium, ECoG Electrodes, Optical Data Link
Founded: 2025
Employees: 11-50
Industries: Medical technology, Neurotechnology / Brain-Computer Interfaces, Medical device manufacturing

01
Implant development (electronics, titanium housing, optics)
02
ECoG electrode integration
03
Signal processing and optical data transmission
04
AI-based neural decoding (headpiece, processor, app)
05
Clinical trials and regulatory approval

Technologies & Materials

Titanium

Hermetically sealed titanium housing for permanent implantation of the miniaturized electronics.

ECoG

ECoG Electrodes

High-density electrode arrays on the brain surface with up to 128 channels for high-resolution, long-term stable recordings.

Optical Data Link

Patented laser-based infrared data link for wireless transmission of raw data through intact skin at up to 50 Mbps.

Location

Geneva

Headquarters

Platform Components

**BCI Implant**Implantable electronics · Medical technology

**Implant Electronics**Signal processing · Medical technology

Inside the production

First-in-Human procedure at TUM University Hospital Rechts der Isar

Tech demo: Wheelchair interface via ABILITY BCI

ALS patient communicating via implanted electrodes

Industries

Medical technologyNeurotechnology / Brain-Computer InterfacesMedical device manufacturing

Additional services

End-to-end BCI platform (implant, headpiece, processor, app)Neural signal processing and decodingAI-based real-time decoding of speech and movement

Reference customers

TUM University Hospital Rechts der IsarUMC UtrechtTU GrazWyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering

Our History

2014
Professor John Donoghue, founding director of the Wyss Center Geneva, designs the basic concept of the fully implantable BCI that later becomes ABILITY.
2018–2024
Research program at the Wyss Center develops implantable electronics, optical data links and decoding algorithms; several preclinical studies in sheep and non-human primate models.
2020
Clinical study: completely paralyzed ALS patient communicates via implanted electrodes over two years in a home setting (publication in Nature Communications).
2025
March: spin-out from the Wyss Center as ABILITY Neurotech, based at Campus Biotech in Geneva.
2026
May: IMDD approval by NedMec (Netherlands) for the first chronic implantation study in ALS patients at UMC Utrecht (INTRECOM consortium).
2026
July: First-in-Human procedure at TUM University Hospital Rechts der Isar (Munich); chronic First-in-Human implantation planned for Q4 2026 with TU Graz and UMC Utrecht.