European neurorehabilitation congress highlights AI and virtual reality breakthroughs in patient recovery
The 8th European Congress of Neurorehabilitation (ECNR) and the 20th Congress of the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity (SSNN) represent significant milestones in the evolution of neurorehabilitation science and practice. Scheduled for 27-28 October 2025 in Torremolinos, Spain, this hybrid-format event brings together delegates from 20 countries including Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Italy, Canada, and Romania, among others. The congress will centre on critical topics such as brain-computer interfaces, virtual and augmented reality applications, artificial intelligence, and their roles in personalized neurological recovery. According to Professor Dafin Mureșanu, President of the European Federation of NeuroRehabilitation Societies (EFNR) and SSNN, the event underlines that neurological rehabilitation today transcends traditional medical approaches, representing a convergence of science, technology, and humanity, with patient-centred care remaining paramount despite rapid digitalisation.
The ECNR and SSNN’s joint sessions will highlight the latest advances in neurorehabilitation, focusing on multidisciplinary approaches and integrating novel technologies into clinical practice. Participants will engage with interactive presentations and case studies emphasising optimal strategies for rehabilitating patients with traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and other neurological conditions. The collaboration between EFNR and SSNN aims to facilitate expertise exchange and foster innovation to improve neurorehabilitation services across Europe and globally. Notably, a special session will focus on building a trans-European network of excellence in neuroscience and neurotechnology. This initiative, involving EFNR and NeurotechEU—a prestigious alliance of eight European universities including Romania’s ‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy—will showcase advanced technologies such as AI, virtual reality, and robotic devices that hold promise in revolutionising neurological recovery.
Moreover, the event is supported by the Academy for Multidisciplinary Neurotraumatology (AMN), which emphasises multidisciplinary care for patients with traumatic brain injuries. The AMN’s contribution includes disseminating recent scientific discoveries, clinical technologies, and practices with a strong focus on integrated teams spanning neurology, neurosurgery, and rehabilitation specialties, aiming to establish new standards of care. As stated by Professor Mureșanu, ECNR 2025 marks a pivotal academic and social mission to demonstrate that technological innovation, research, and international collaboration can redefine neurological recovery boundaries. Romania’s specialists continue to play a key role in advancing the field and promoting neurorehabilitation on the international stage.
This congress is part of a broader landscape of neurorehabilitation activities, reflected in complementary initiatives such as the upcoming 13th Annual Conference of the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation in March 2025, which similarly emphasises evidence-based neurorehabilitation and multidisciplinary engagement. Furthermore, EFNR organizes Rehabilitation Course Series scheduled in Warsaw and Barcelona in 2025, involving practical training and cooperation with entities like the World Stroke Organization to strengthen clinical expertise in areas such as motor recovery and cognitive impairment.
Romania’s ‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy and its advanced research infrastructures contribute significantly to this dynamic field. The university’s involvement in the Horizon 2020-funded NeurotechRI project underlines its leadership in creating integrative research platforms, including cutting-edge qEEG and eye-tracking laboratories. These facilities complement the NeurotechEU alliance’s educational programmes, such as the Autumn School of Clinical Neurotechnology offering hands-on training on virtual neuroanatomy and neurorehabilitation technologies, reinforcing the preparation of future clinicians and researchers.
In summary, the 8th ECNR and the 20th SSNN Congress, supported by EFNR, AMN, and involving key institutions across Europe, epitomize a multidimensional, technologically integrated, and collaborative approach in neurorehabilitation. These efforts aim not only at enhancing scientific knowledge but also at practical improvements in patient recovery pathways through partnerships between clinical, academic, and technological sectors, setting a high benchmark for international cooperation in neurological health.