
Co-funded by the European Union and part of the Built4People partnership, the InclusiveSpaces project works to make urban environments accessible and welcoming to everyone, especially people in vulnerable situations. Partners of the project are developing key assistive technologies, such as the Mover iSEATRAC and iKiosk.
TOBEA is a Greek company that was founded in 2012 out of a shared passion for solving problems through engineering and a desire to create meaningful solutions. For the founders, a conversation with a friend who uses a wheelchair was the turning point: after the friend shared how difficult it was to enjoy the Greek summer and access the sea independently, the team decided to develop SEATRAC, a solar-powered system that allows people with mobility challenges to access the water without assistance. Since then, the company has expanded its mission, contributing innovative technologies like the Mover iSEATRAC and iKiosk to the InclusiveSpaces project. In an interview with Ignatios Fotiou, President of TOBEA, we discuss the company’s involvement in InclusiveSpaces and plans for the future.
TOBEA’s Technologies and How They Work
TOBEA’s key products, the Mover iSEATRAC and iKiosk, were created to remove barriers for people in vulnerable situations.
The Mover iSEATRAC improves on TOBEA’s original SEATRAC system with a solar-powered track and chair mechanism, allowing people with limited mobility to enter and leave the water on their own. It also includes sensors that adapt to real-time information and diverse environments. The iKiosk acts as a support station, offering mobility aids and other services, such as wheelchair rentals and charging points. Together, these tools create a more accessible experience for beaches and other public spaces.
These solutions aim to enhance accessibility in public spaces like beaches and urban centers, making them more inclusive for individuals with mobility challenges. “Our goal is to create tools that not only work effectively but also allow people to participate in everyday life with greater independence,” explains Ignatios.

TOBEA in the InclusiveSpaces Project
TOBEA became part of the InclusiveSpaces consortium to work alongside organizations with a shared goal of addressing accessibility issues. As pointed out by Ignatios, “this partnership came from a desire to combine knowledge and experience to solve accessibility problems”.
Being part of InclusiveSpaces has encouraged TOBEA to refine its products further to meet different user needs and contribute to designing better public spaces by making specific improvements. “We added modular parts to the Mover iSEATRAC to fit different beach layouts. We also made the iKiosk simpler to use and easier to set up in different places,” Ignatios explains.
These innovations result from extensive feedback from people in vulnerable situations, caregivers, and experts. “We’ve spent a lot of time listening and learning from users to understand their needs and challenges. This approach helps us design systems that are practical, durable, and truly helpful.”
The main hurdles were creating systems that were both easy to use and durable enough to handle different conditions. “For iKiosk, it was important to integrate various mobility solutions into one straightforward system.”
As part of the InclusiveSpaces pilot demonstrations, The Mobility Station – Kiosk will be installed in Athens-Penteli, Larnaka, and Hamburg, while the iSEATRAC will be installed in selected coastal sites in Larnaka and at Lake Alster in Hamburg.
TOBEA’s Impact
The real measure of TOBEA’s success lies in the stories of its users. “One person told us how SEATRAC allowed them to enter the sea for the first time in decades,” Ignatios recalls. The company’s website also helps users locate accessible beaches, making it easier for them to plan outings with confidence.
By offering practical solutions, TOBEA contributes to a larger movement toward inclusion, where accessibility is not an afterthought but a foundational element of design. TOBEA’s goal is to give people more freedom to take part in everyday life. “We want to make it easier for everyone to enjoy public spaces without limitations,” says Ignatios. “We also hope these tools will become common features in public areas, showing the value of inclusive design.”
Looking Ahead
TOBEA’s participation in InclusiveSpaces has broadened its perspective on global accessibility challenges. The collaboration pushes the team to consider how its solutions can be applied to different contexts and locations. “We’re constantly thinking about how we can improve and expand our reach,” says Ignatios.
For TOBEA, the ultimate goal is to inspire long-term change in how public spaces are designed and used. Through projects like InclusiveSpaces, TOBEA envisions a future where public spaces are welcoming and accessible to everyone, setting a new standard for inclusion.