From a young age, Anas Niaz was captivated by larger-than-life superheroes and the futuristic technologies in science fiction films. He became fascinated by characters like Iron Man, and dreamed of one day building robots. This passion led him to pursue a degree in mechatronics engineering; he left his hometown, Nawabshah, Pakistan, and began his studies at SZABIST University in Karachi.
While studying, Niaz displayed incredible drive and dedication, serving as President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Club and the service organization SZABIST Lions Club International. At the same time, he enjoyed working as a radio show host for SACHAL FM 105 and ZAB FM 106.6.
This tireless work ethic and passion took him far in his career as a consultant in product design and development for different companies. One day, he received a random email from a family asking for a prosthetic arm for their 5-year-old boy, who was born without a hand.
“When I met that boy…I asked him, what kind of arm do you want? He said, ‘I need an Iron Man [arm],” Niaz said. It was at that moment that it clicked. “That was a connection moment for me…I have always loved to build robots and this is my chance to help this boy, as well as make something [that] is my dream work.”
Niaz set to work building a prosthetic, Iron Man-themed arm. In the research process, he realized that 80% of people around the world with missing limbs do not have a prosthetic.
“There are almost 100 million amputees around the world. If you make a human chain of them, it can go five times around the world,” Niaz explained. “That was really surprising for me. I started to make prosthetics and improve the quality so that I can help a lot of people around the globe.”
This experience was the catalyst for the creation of Bioniks, the company Niaz co-founded in 2016, with a mission to develop advanced, low-cost, bio-mechatronic prosthetics for individuals with congenital anomalies and disabilities. As one of the first ventures of its kind in Southeast Asia, Niaz quickly witnessed the transformative effects of his work.
“It was amazing because there are very few businesses in the world where you can see the impact instantly,” Niaz said. “When you talk about the prosthetic, and they wear the prosthetic, and you can clearly see the difference in their eyes, the spark in their eyes, the smile that brings just by giving them something which is very basic. But for them, it’s everything.”
Niaz and his team overcame challenges in developing innovative manufacturing processes to create prosthetics that were not only affordable but also durable, lightweight, and functional. Additionally, they faced cultural stigmas surrounding disabilities in South Asia. Despite these obstacles, it is seeing the drive and the joy in Bioink’s users that motivates him the most.
“We have seen people [lose] everything after losing their limbs—their jobs, their families, their friends. But they are still smiling and still coming to us like nothing happened,” Niaz said. “As humans, very small failures in our lives make us feel like it’s the end of our lives, but actually, it’s not. You have to see people who have lost everything but are still smiling and still having hope in their life. That’s something that I think everybody should have.”
Since its founding in 2016, Bioniks achieved 2.6 million hours of usage of Bioniks Arms, and added PKR 180 million to the circular economy as a result of the active participation of individuals with disabilities. The Bioniks Welfare Foundation also raised PKR 189 million, directly benefiting over 400 individuals not only through Bionik Arms, but also counseling and therapy sessions.
“There’s a taboo attached with the disability, so we have to do a lot of counseling for the parents, the spouse, and the amputees. It was really challenging,” Niaz said. “But soon we realized that the prosthetic is not just enough. You have to build the community out of it and then move forward.”
For the future, Niaz plans to expand the company globally.
“Since we have figured out how to make prosthetic limbs accessible, and since now we use more digital technology, we believe that this technology can help and reach almost every part of the world,” Niaz said.
Anas Niaz’s journey with Bioniks reflects a powerful blend of passion, innovation, and a deep commitment to social impact. Niaz not only fulfilled his childhood dream of building robots, but also significantly transformed the lives of countless individuals. By focusing on accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity, Niaz and his team at Bioniks have set a new standard in the field of prosthetics, proving that technology, when aligned with empathy and purpose, can lead to profound societal change.
