Engineering that cares. A community that transforms lives.
We bring hospitals, universities, companies and schools together to create social robotics and STEAM experiences for children during long hospital stays.
Two decades of support have turned R2-KT into a network of people, hospitals and units sharing one mission.
50
R2-KT units
An international droid community connected to Katie's legacy.
20
countries
Very different communities connected through a shared symbol.
76
hospital visits
Activities coordinated with hospitals, associations and professionals.
2,427
support encounters
Personal moments of joy and connection with children and families.
Cumulative figures reported by Fundación ThePinkForce. The project does not attribute clinical outcomes to these activities.
Since 2005a story born from one family's love
The project
Technology should not invade the hospital. It should make it more human.
R2-KT began in 2005 when Albin Johnson created a pink droid to support his daughter Katie. Today, The Pink Force Factory turns that gesture into a social innovation ecosystem growing from Spain to the world.
Established in Spain in 2020, Fundación ThePinkForce develops every technological advance with care, shared knowledge and absolute respect for children.
The Factory organises two decades of history and learning to build a new phase from Spain.
2005
R2-KT is born
Albin Johnson creates the pink droid to support his daughter Katie during her illness.
2020
Foundation established in Spain
Fundación ThePinkForce is created to turn Katie's legacy into long-term hospital support.
2025
First Mini R2-KT deliveries
Experiences in Madrid, Bilbao and Japan inform the redesign and the next phase.
2026
University network
The Factory consolidates agreements and shared work across robotics, health and education.
2027
Responsible scaling
Subject to partnerships, the goal is to expand the hospital network and connect units through Universe.
A story that must grow with rigour
R2-KT's value lies in what it represents to children and families. Every technical development is a support tool, never a substitute for human or clinical care.
Where we are heading
Growing from Spain, sharing the model with the world
This roadmap expresses an institutional aspiration. Progress will depend on agreements, funding, evaluation and operational capacity in each territory.
Current phaseConsolidation in Spain
University network, hospital implementation, the Challenge and stronger protocols.
Next horizonEuropean partnerships
Sharing methodology and lessons with compatible organisations when concrete agreements are in place.
International visionUnited States and Asia
Connecting developments in Spain with the international R2-KT community, including the bridge to Japan.
Visual roadmapAn aspirational vision subject to agreements, funding and operational capacity. Select to enlarge.
Mini R2-KT
Build, learn and then care
A mobile robot built by educational communities and donated to pediatric oncology units and hospital classrooms.
From prototype to an international networkIn development · Q4 2026
A new pilot series
The EHU Bilbao School of Engineering is redesigning 5–10 units with mentored schools, improving durability, connections and motor control.
Standardised design and materials
Final technical inspection at EHU
Review by CEA, the Foundation and URJC
Unique QR and NFC identity before donation
Deployment target75
Mini R2-KT for 15 hospitals
Five units per hospital, subject to funding, manufacturing and hospital coordination.
Building Mini R2-KT brings together technical skills, adaptation to pediatric environments and social responsibility. Learning does not end when the robot works: it culminates when the unit can support children safely, empathetically and with purpose.
01 · Chassis and motor
STEM skills
Design, manufacturing, electronics, programming, integration and technical documentation.
02 · Human core
Social skills
Ethics, empathy, teamwork and responsibility towards a real recipient.
03 · Interface and use
Hospital adaptation
Suitable materials, friendly interaction, accessibility and coordination with the centre.
1.50 mSocial robotics in the hospital environment
Full-size R2-KT
Emotional presence. Responsible evolution.
R2-KT hospital visits are the origin of the Foundation's social work. The new phase aims to improve accessibility, interaction and autonomy without turning the robot into a substitute for the people supporting the child.
Operational
Presence and control
Remote-controlled movement, lights, sound, cameras, projection and audiovisual resources for visits.
In development
Greater interaction
Screens, new gestures, captioning of R2-KT sounds and more accessible communication systems.
Research
Autonomy and responsible AI
Assisted navigation, adaptive responses and emotional recognition without storing images, subject to ethical and healthcare assessment.
Artificial intelligence and emotional-recognition capabilities are research areas; they are not presented as clinical or fully operational functions.
From classroom to hospital
A carefully managed journey from start to finish
Delivery is only one moment. The project includes preparation, traceability, coordination and learning afterwards.
01
Listen to the hospital
The Foundation identifies needs with hospital classrooms, associations and authorised professionals.
02
Prepare the unit
Universities, schools and companies collaborate on manufacturing, assembly, documentation and testing.
03
Inspect and register
Each Mini R2-KT receives a technical inspection, QR/NFC identity and traceability before delivery.
04
Support and improve
Delivery is coordinated with the centre; lessons learned inform protocols and future versions.
Open yet controlled model
Shared knowledge, protected destination
The Foundation provides 3D models, inventories, diagrams and technical knowledge to authorised organisations. Improvements can be documented and transferred across the network, while every unit retains an exclusively social, educational and hospital purpose.
What does traceability provide?
It records which organisation participated, the inspection received, the authorised destination and who coordinates maintenance. QR or NFC also links to the digital experience without identifying the child.
AUniversities
Design, manufacturing, inspection, documentation and mentoring.
BMentored schools
3D printing, assembly, electronics and supervised STEAM learning.
CResearch centres
Scientific team building, content and skilled volunteering.
DCompanies and foundations
Funding, materials, talent, manufacturing and institutional support.
Mini R2-KT Universe
A gateway to space, knowledge and community
The digital experience linked through NFC or QR turns every Mini R2-KT into a galactic companion without collecting children's personal or clinical data.
Prototype under academic assessment by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
01
Real astronomy
The Moon, Mars, Webb, rovers and the ISS using public NASA and ESA content, without implying official sponsorship.
02
Network of units
A global R2-KT map and supervised messaging between units, without identifiable data.
03
Prudent innovation
Games and future responsible AI functions subject to ethical, academic and healthcare validation.
Initial prototype catalogueModules built from open space-science sources. Final availability will depend on licensing review. Select to enlarge.
Activities in preparation
The tablet turns hospital time into a mission
Educational proposals draw on real space missions and are adapted to encourage curiosity, conversation and participation.
Exploration
Rovers and robots
Challenges featuring Perseverance, Astrobee, the European Robotic Arm and Rosalind Franklin.
Observation
Space-imaging mission
Real images from Jezero crater, Webb, Hubble, Solar Orbiter and Rosetta to observe, play and learn.
Discovery
Current missions
Europa Clipper, Proba-3, Hera, Euclid and the dark universe adapted into an accessible experience.
Content cites public sources from NASA, ESA and scientific organisations. Educational use does not imply sponsorship or official collaboration.
Modular platform
An experience that can grow with the scientific community
Universe is conceived as a platform open to new content, while every module must respect its educational purpose, privacy requirements and academic review.
Orbit
ISS and visible sky
Predictions of International Space Station passes and activities for observing the sky from each hospital.
Science
Content that supports
Astronomy, space exploration, robotics and science communication adapted to different ages.
Community
A galaxy of units
International map, QR/NFC identity and future supervised interactions between Mini R2-KT units.
Growth
Collaborative modules
Universities and organisations will be able to contribute educational content related to their expertise.
Functional prototype
From Mini R2-KT to a safe digital experience
These capabilities already exist in a functional prototype and remain under technical, academic and legal assessment before final implementation.
01NFC or QR
Pseudonymous access
The unit sends a technical identifier; it requires no name, diagnosis or medical history.
02Universe
Space content
APOD, missions, rovers, Earth observation, asteroids and guided sky exploration from open sources.
03Community
Privacy-aware map
Units appear by city or institution, with shared missions and structured interactions rather than open chat.
04Back office
Rights review
Sources, licences, credits and restrictions are reviewed before a resource reaches the children's experience.
The future production version must complete all applicable privacy, security, accessibility and licensing reviews. References to NASA or ESA describe content sources and do not imply sponsorship.
Learning in a real context
Hospital Fundación Alcorcón + URJC: observing in order to improve
The visit to Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, accompanied by Health Sciences volunteers from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, provides learning in the hospital environment to improve protocols, interaction and the different phases of the project.
This work is part of an academic partnership under development. The protocol is still being designed and may examine emotional experience, anxiety, pain perception, families, professionals and selected procedures, always with the corresponding ethical and healthcare authorisations.
Hospital support in action
Signed agreement · URJC
Academic knowledge improving hospital support
R2-KT and The Pink Force Factory took part on 29 June 2026 in the “DolorES nombre de MUJER” summer course organised by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Aranjuez. The event presented the project from an interdisciplinary perspective and explored its educational, psychological and social dimensions.
The signed URJC agreement frames joint work to improve visit protocols, interaction with children and the future assessment of the hospital-support model. The partnership is active; outcome evaluation remains under development and does not yet constitute completed clinical validation.
DolorES nombre de MUJER · URJC
A shared model
No one transforms a hospital alone
Spain is the hub from which the project grows internationally through partnership agreements.
01
Fundación ThePinkForce
Purpose, governance and hospital relationships
02
Universities
Engineering, research, validation and mentoring
03
CEA
Technical coordination between foundation, industry and academia
04
Companies
Funding, talent, materials and technological capacity
05
Schools
Mentored STEAM learning from age 12
06
Hospitals
Supervised use in pediatric oncology and classrooms
Shared engineering
SENER Foundation and CEA: knowledge that multiplies impact
SENER Foundation is promoting the construction of the full-size aluminium R2-KT master unit, conceived to test functions and transfer knowledge to universities. CEA coordinates technical work between the Foundation, companies and the university community.
Together, these capabilities turn a solidarity initiative into a collaborative, documented and replicable technical model.
Technical partnership in action
Universidad Rey Juan CarlosBilbao School of Engineering · EHUTecnun · Universidad de NavarraUniversidad de AlcaláUniversidad Francisco de VitoriaSpanish Committee of AutomationSENER FoundationCampus Puente NuevoCIE Automotive
Model safeguards
Innovation involving children requires clear boundaries
Partnership agreements turn prudence into a shared procedure for the Foundation, universities, companies and recipient centres.
✓Units are neither sold nor delivered outside the Foundation's framework.
✓Hospital activities comply with each centre's protocols and authorisations.
✓Images of minors require consent and prior coordination.
✓Universe does not require personal or clinical data for its core content.
✓Future AI functions will undergo academic, ethical and healthcare review.
✓Every partnership records responsibilities, contributions, units and authorised destination.
I Pink Force STEAM Challenge 2027
Can you connect two hospitalized children on opposite sides of the world?
University teams from across Spain will take on a human-centred IoT challenge: enabling a greeting sent from a Mini R2-KT in Spain to reach another unit in Japan, translated and transformed into a visible interaction.
Official presentation27 November 2026 · Albin Johnson
In-person finalJuly 2027 · Puente Nuevo
Format36-hour challenge
Challenge reference architectureThe animation presents the proposed technology flow connecting two Mini R2-KT units in Spain and Japan. The definitive architecture will be established in the technical rules.
The challenge
Real technology creating a real emotional connection
Teams will design a communication architecture capable of connecting two Mini R2-KT units through the cloud. The challenge combines electronics, programming, connectivity, translation and interaction design, with safety and responsible-use criteria for hospital environments.
Spain–Japan IoT communication
A visible interaction between two Mini R2-KT units
Design adapted to hospital settings
Technical documentation and team presentation
Official presentation
27 November 2026
The challenge, its mission and participation pathway will be presented with Albin Johnson.
Online phase
Architecture proposal
University teams will prepare and submit their technical solution before the finalists are selected.
In-person final
July 2027 · 36 hours
The finalist teams will build and demonstrate their proposals at Campus Puente Nuevo.
Prize
Mission to Japan
The winning team will join the delivery mission connecting the project with the Children’s Cancer Association of Japan.
Knowledge leaves the classroom and finds a real purpose
Universities contribute engineering, research, mentoring and validation. With suitable support, schools can participate in 3D printing, assembly, electronics, programming and content development from age 12.
Next milestonePinkForce STEAM Challenge
27 November 2026 · Naturgy headquarters, Avenida de América, Madrid
Tecnun–Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Alcalá, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and EHU–Bilbao School of Engineering collaborate with Fundación ThePinkForce through formal agreements.
Tecnun · Universidad de NavarraUniversidad de AlcaláUniversidad Francisco de VitoriaUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosBilbao School of Engineering · EHU
Institutional approval · signature imminent
Universidad Europea de Madrid: an approved academic partnership awaiting formalisation
Fundación ThePinkForce presented The Pink Force Factory model and its work in social robotics, STEAM education and hospital partnerships at Universidad Europea de Madrid.
The University has formally approved the project and both organisations are preparing to sign the collaboration agreement. The next step will define training, research and purpose-led innovation programmes.
Technology and health sciences working towards one mission
The intersection of disciplinesThe original infographic complements this responsive explanation. Select to enlarge.
TechnologyBuild and program
Engineering, robotics, electronics, systems and mobility.
Pink Force coreHumanise technology
Cohesive teams, ethics, social responsibility and a holistic vision.
Health SciencesAdapt and assess
Nursing, medicine, psychology, safety and pediatric interaction.
Academic and healthcare assessment remains under development; this model describes collaboration and does not yet demonstrate clinical effectiveness.
Female STEAM talent
From a data centre to a purpose-led robotics experience
During a Technovation Girls intermediate round, R2-KT visited the BBVA data centre and joined a robotics workshop for the participating girls.
The activity was developed with Power to Code, an association that has a collaboration agreement with Fundación ThePinkForce. It shows how technology, volunteering and female role models can inspire STEM vocations from an early age.
Designing the assessment and learning model for hospital settings, without yet claiming clinical effectiveness.
CNIO · Research and outreach
Scientific volunteering, workshops and construction of units delivered to Hospital Universitario La Paz.
Real milestones
Learning from every delivery
The first 2025 experiences guided the redesign and university model for the next phase.
19 September 2025 · Madrid
Three Mini R2-KT units for La Paz
Built by volunteer CNIO researchers and delivered together with the Foundation.
23 April 2025 · Japan
A bridge to Japan
Delivered with support from Bilbao City Council's Innovation Department and La Cuadri del Hospi.
The project in images
People, engineering and real moments
A documentary selection of the work connecting hospitals, research, universities and companies.
Much more than a droidTechnology serving closeness, conversation and emotional relief.Technology with purposeEvery unit is created to support and connect a community around the child.SupportR2-KT's presence creates an emotional meeting point in the hospital.UniversityEngineering organised around a shared social purpose.TalentStudents and professionals turn knowledge into solutions.One familyTwo robot scales connected by the same mission.
Institutional patronage
Your capacity can become hospital impact
We seek more than funding: we seek allies who contribute knowledge, credibility, talent and capacity to scale.
01
Lead Partner
Makes a complete strategic programme possible
Hospitals, Challenge, Universe, validation or international expansion.
From prototype to an international network
