The visit of the President Salvador Illa underlines the value of collaboration between social and technological entities.
On 7 June 2025, as part of an institutional visit to the non-profit Fundació Ave Maria, the President of the Catalan Regional Government, Salvador Illa, saw first-hand the operation of Laundry ID, a system developed by the Robotics Institute for Dependency (IRD), which has positioned itself as a benchmark in technology applied to assistive care.
The demonstration highlighted how technological innovation can significantly improve the management of essential services such as laundry in care centres, while at the same time promoting autonomy, operational efficiency and the well-being of residents and professionals. In fact, the President highlighted Laundry ID as an example of innovation: a laundry, in his words, ‘where technology is placed at the service of inclusion and everyday well-being’.
Laundry ID combines RFID technology with an intelligent traceability software, allowing each person’s laundry to be automatically identified and managed. This ensures a more hygienic, efficient and fully personalised process.
But beyond logistical efficiency, this system represents a key advance in terms of dignity and personal autonomy. By making it easier for each resident to retrieve their clean clothes without relying on third parties, it reinforces fundamental aspects such as self-esteem, self-management, and a sense of individuality within the care centres. In addition, its implementation opens up opportunities for the inclusion in the labour market of people with disabilities or in vulnerable situations, who can actively participate in the operation and maintenance of the system, thus contributing to their full integration and the recognition of their abilities.
During the visit, the IRD also presented the integration of TEMI, a mobile robotic assistant designed to guide and accompany both professionals and residents in everyday tasks in residential settings.
In his speech, President Salvador Illa stressed the importance of putting people at the centre of all decisions, and recognised the value of organisations such as the Fundació Ave Maria, which integrate technological solutions with a strong social commitment. He also praised the role of the IRD as an example of how innovation can be applied sensitively and effectively in the field of care.
At the Robotics Institute for Dependency, we reaffirm our commitment to the development of technologies that dignify the lives of people, improve the working conditions of professionals and generate a positive and measurable impact on social entities. We continue to work to make technology a true instrument of inclusion, autonomy and collective well-being.