Shonaquip Social Enterprise, an internationally recognised social enterprise working at the intersection of assistive technology, disability inclusion, and systems development, will present its integrated mobility ecosystem approach at OTWorld 2026 in Leipzig.
Developed through decades of implementation in South Africa and broader global partnerships, the organisation’s model combines assistive technology manufacturing, clinical services, workforce development, community empowerment, and systems strengthening into one interconnected rehabilitation ecosystem.
The announcement marks the organisation’s formal exploration of partnerships across Germany and Europe.
Assistive Technology Is Not a Product Challenge, It Is a Systems Challenge
Globally, more than 2.5 billion people require at least one assistive product, with demand projected to rise to 3.5 billion by 2050. Yet access remains deeply unequal, particularly in low- and middle-income regions where access rates can fall below 10%.
According to Shonaquip Social Enterprise, the challenge extends beyond access itself.
“Assistive technology is often understood as a product solution,” the organisation states. “But in practice, inclusion depends on systems — assessment, fitting, training, maintenance, environment, and long-term support. When these systems are fragmented, even the best-designed products fail.”
The organisation argues that mobility devices such as wheelchairs are not simply healthcare products, but essential infrastructure for participation in education, healthcare, employment, and community life.
Designing Under Constraint
Shonaquip Social Enterprise’s approach was developed in environments where infrastructure constraints, specialist shortages, and fragmented service delivery required fundamentally different design thinking.
This led to the development of:
- modular and repairable mobility systems,
- distributed service and outreach models,
- workforce training pathways,
- local manufacturing approaches,
- community-centred rehabilitation support systems.
The organisation’s assistive technology solutions are ISO 13485-aligned and designed for long-term adaptability, durability, and serviceability in real-world conditions.
From Products to Ecosystems
Today, the organisation impacts more than 350,000 lives annually across multiple countries and has delivered more than 160,000 assistive devices alongside extensive clinician, technician, educator, and caregiver training programmes.
Its ecosystem model includes:
- assistive technology design and manufacturing,
- clinical service delivery,
- training and workforce development,
- family and community empowerment,
- policy and systems engagement,
- and a Rural Assistive Device Test Laboratory that evaluates devices under real world operating conditions.
The organisation refers to this broader approach as “inclusive industrialisation”, a framework that connects manufacturing, repair systems, workforce development, and circular economy principles into sustainable inclusion infrastructure.
Building Partnerships Across Europe
At OTWorld, Shonaquip Social Enterprise will focus on building partnerships with:
- rehabilitation distributors
- Sanitätshaus networks
- clinical service providers
- assistive technology innovators
- ecosystem partners across Germany and Europe
Areas of collaboration include:
- distribution and market access
- clinical partnerships
- product co-development and testing
- training and capacity building
- systems strengthening initiatives
“We are not here simply to enter a market,” the organisation states. “We are here to build partnerships that strengthen inclusive mobility systems.”
About Shonaquip Social Enterprise
Shonaquip Social Enterprise is a South African social enterprise focused on assistive technology, inclusive mobility, and systems-based rehabilitation models. The organisation works across manufacturing, clinical services, training, policy engagement, and community empowerment to improve long-term participation outcomes for people with disabilities.