The PACETECH is an internationally patented prototype (International Application Number: PCT/IB2022/061542 I WIPO reference: WO202311902 I Reference: P1116.9 WO IPVC) developed to address the challenges faced during the PACER test, the most widely used resource for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness of individuals of all ages and in various settings (clinical, sports, educational). In Portugal, the PACER is used in all the schools.
Developed within the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, SPRINT affiliated institution, the PACETECH provides a luminous track through one or more LED strips that participants can easily follow. It allows the control of all participants during the test and provides immediate assessment data through a dedicated APP and cloud storage. The apparatus is portable, sturdy, lightweight, and pretends to be cost-affordable.
The PACETECH was developed in collaboration with colleagues from sports sciences, technological systems, and health. It has been tested in proof-of-concept trials with companies, schools, clubs, and central administration (Portuguese Education Board). After the patent, the PACETECH has been disseminated in the scientific community through articles, book chapters, and conference presentations.
Currently, PACETECH is at TRL 6, ready to find partners who can fund its transition to production and sales through a business model that could involve startup incubation or licensing to existing companies.