IIT-Madras Unveils NeoStand: A Life-Changing Electric Wheelchair That Helps Users Stand at the Touch of a Button

In a game-changing breakthrough for assistive mobility in India, researchers at IIT Madras have unveiled NeoStand, an electric standing wheelchair that allows users to shift from a seated to a standing position with the press of a button. The innovation is a part of the institute’s continuous commitment to enhancing independence and dignity for people with physical disabilities.

NeoStand follows IIT-M’s earlier successes—‘Arise’, India’s first manual standing wheelchair, and ‘NeoBolt’, the first motorised add-on for manual wheelchairs. Together, these innovations represent a comprehensive vision of freedom, accessibility, and advanced engineering.

NeoStand is a fully indigenised, customisable electric wheelchair built by the institute’s TTS Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2). It was developed to address a long-standing issue: the lack of affordable, powered standing wheelchairs in the Indian market.

Why does standing matter? For wheelchair users, standing brings multiple health benefits—from improving blood circulation and digestion to reducing the risk of pressure sores and enhancing psychological well-being. NeoStand offers all this and more, with precision engineering that supports vertical posture and user-friendly controls that require minimal effort.

The wheelchair’s compact design and modular components make it ideal for home use, workplaces, or public environments. It is customisable based on user needs, ensuring comfort, safety, and maximum usability. And because it is designed and built in India, it comes at a fraction of the cost of imported equivalents—making it more accessible to Indian users.

IIT-Madras is also working with rehabilitation centers, NGOs, and hospitals to bring NeoStand to a wider audience. Early trials with users have already shown significant improvements in quality of life and user satisfaction, making NeoStand more than a mobility device—it’s a step toward independence.

With innovations like NeoStand, IIT-Madras continues to lead India’s mission in inclusive design, accessible engineering, and disability empowerment. As the demand for affordable assistive tech grows, the NeoStand is poised to change countless lives across the country.