In 2010, The Sensory Motor Adaptive Rehabilitation Technology (SMART) Network was established by the University of Alberta to develop smart medical devices and innovative rehabilitative interventions in an effort to improve quality of life and functionality for people with neural injuries and diseases.

The team received approximately $5 million dollars from Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions from 2010 to 2015 which it was able to leverage into $40 million in additional funding. The researchers decided to formally unite into the SMART Network as they realized both their collective successes and the areas still in need of improvement.