QUS Body Connected: European Dual-Use Wearable Biosensor Technology

QUS Body Connected is a European startup pioneering “smart” apparel that can unobtrusively track human vital signs in real time. Founded in Austria, the company emerged from the sportswear industry with a vision to embed advanced biosensors into comfortable, washable garments. Its flagship product – a smart fitness shirt – seamlessly integrates textile-based sensors and a miniature on-board device to capture metrics like heart rate, breathing rate, and motion without the wearer needing any clunky gadgets[1]. This innovative approach earned early accolades in consumer tech circles and demonstrated the platform’s reliability under the intense demands of professional sports. Now, QUS is drawing wider attention by translating its technology from athletic performance to the defense realm. By partnering with major European industry players, the company aims to outfit soldiers and first responders with wearables that monitor health and readiness on the battlefield just as it does on the running track. QUS’s quiet evolution from local sports-tech venture to a dual-use innovator exemplifies how European ingenuity at the human–technology interface can spark capabilities with both civilian and military value. This report will explore how a smart shirt built for athletes is being reimagined as a strategic asset for Europe’s armed forces – potentially strengthening European defense autonomy, enhancing NATO operational effectiveness, and reducing reliance on foreign electronics in the process.