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It originally started as an assignment for a subject focused on developing business ideas. Now, with their own smart chair, doctoral students Eduard Šuster and Lukáš Pilc have won the University Startup competition. The inspiration came from Eduard’s personal experience with back pain caused by prolonged sitting. “We realized that most chairs address ergonomics only passively. We want the chair to help people sit correctly and actively,” they described the basic idea behind the project. They continued to develop the idea during their further studies.

The smart chair uses sensors to monitor the user’s posture while sitting. The data is then analyzed by software, providing the user with insights into their habits and recommendations. “If the system detects improper posture, it alerts the user, for example, with a gentle vibration directly in the seat,” said Lukáš Pilc. Users can also view more detailed data in the app.

Experts in physical therapy and ergonomics are also collaborating with the students on the project. “It is important to us that the technology is based not only on data but also on expert insights into healthy posture,” added Eduard Šuster. They are currently in discussions regarding a research collaboration with the Faculty of Health Care Studies at the University of West Bohemia.

The idea for the Ergosenc chair originated during a course at the Faculty of Economics at the University of West Bohemia. Thanks to support from the Center for Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (CPU), the team joined the incubation program at the Business Innovation Centre Plzeň (BIC), which provided them with mentoring and initial financial support for developing the technology. Over the course of more than a year of work, the team has presented the project to experts and the business community. It is gradually developing it in collaboration with other students and external partners. “We want not only to expand our product into international markets, particularly in Europe, but also to create a comprehensive solution for smart and healthy seating that will benefit both businesses and individuals,” concluded Lukáš Pilc.

According to the creators, the project is currently in the testing and further development phase. Ergosenc also has its own website and, according to the creators, is gradually gaining attention from both the professional and business communities. The students also had the opportunity to present the project at a meeting with the President of the Czech Republic. Last year, Eduard and Lukáš also won second place in the Invest Day business idea competition.