What does it take to succeed at what everyone says is impossible?

Tenacity, a drive to create change and a desire to make a positive impact in someone's life. Sisters Sofie and Sarah had that when they founded OICAN in the spring of 2021.

OICAN is the creative outgrowth of two entrepreneurs' personal connection to a clear problem and the burning drive to find the solution.

The short story

Sofie and Sarah have - together with top expertise - developed a new protective material that both provides good protection and can be integrated into clothing without being seen (and barely felt). A close, interdisciplinary collaboration with some of the country's leading researchers, materials experts and biomechanical engineers made the impossible possible!

The company was founded in 2021, but the idea began already in 2020 when one of the founder's sons was diagnosed with a chronic disease that means an increased risk of injuries in connection with falls.

The slightly longer story

It all started in the summer of 2020 when Sofie's youngest son was 1 year old. Then the family learned that he had a chronic illness which, among other things, means a greater risk of injury if he falls. As a one-year-old, he wasn't very steady on his legs yet, so an occupational therapist at the hospital gave him a cut-out pillow to wear as protection inside his clothes. But the pillow rubbed and showed on the outside and many children on the playground wondered what it was that was sticking out. That made Sofie start to think.

Every impact affects

Sofie started studying. The most common part of the body to be injured in falls and bumps is the head, and researchers today point out that repeated blows and bumps to the head can affect the brain in the long term. So regardless of whether a child is sensitive to injuries, has challenges with their balance or just likes to romp around, a protection in play can be a great security. Sofie found plenty of protection for sports and athletic activities, but almost none that could be used discreetly in everyday life. Here there was a job to do and the idea of ​​a protective cap took off.

Find a solution

Sofie is a trained political scientist with a focus on, among other things, sustainability. She had no previous experience from either the protection or clothing industry. Neither does sister Sarah, who is trained in health and behavioral science. However, both have always been enterprising and encouraged not to give up. Already as children, they learned that: "If you want something, you have to work for it. If problems arise, you must find a solution.”

No compromises

Together, they began to look for something that could protect a child's head against impacts and at the same time be discreet, comfortable and kind to the environment. No compromises.

To find out everything about protective materials and textiles, they started by taking a course at the Chemicals Inspectorate. It was called "Phase out dangerous substances from your products" and was aimed at established companies. Sofie and Sarah hadn't even started their business, but thought it's better to know in advance what to avoid. Many raised their eyebrows at this, but it would prove to be a smart move.

Tests at RISE

Most protective materials on the market are made of PU or PVC plastic, and can be downright harmful both to the person who uses the product and to the person who manufactures it. Sofie and Sarah did not want to reduce one risk by adding another, so they continued their search by testing some twenty world-leading materials at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) without finding what they were looking for.

"Science must be challenged"

One day they received the sad message "you will not find what you are looking for" from a material expert in the industry. There was simply nothing on the market that could meet all of OICAN's requirements. That could have been the end of this story. But instead it became the motivator to think in a different way – more interdisciplinary. The usual science obviously needed to be challenged and innovative actors were invited into the development work. And it worked! Through help from Science Park's incubators and support from the state's innovation authority Vinnova, the sisters teamed up with Sweden's leading researchers, materials experts and biomechanical engineers.

A unique material

The result was a new, unique material! OICAN's protection is only a few millimeters thick, but provides a high level of protection through very good damping and is also classified as non-toxic.

The protection has so far been tested against the standard used in the development of MC protection. Now OICAN is working further, in close collaboration with researchers, to develop a standardized test method that can simulate more realistic cases for both children and other target groups.