Brain keeps on winning on Artificial Intelligence

Among the 2017 finalists in the 'Best Early Stage Innovation' category, the European Commission and the European citizens had identified innovations in artificial intelligence and an enabling technology from CEA-LETI for a new generation of MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG). This breakthrough technology in Brain imaging finally won the prize on 9th November, during the ICT’s Proposers’ Day in Budapest. 

The development of this innovation was performed in the framework of the Gateone-project, one of the first BLUMORPHO Factory’s innovation acceleration programme.

Thanks to this project, the technology research institute CEA-LETI developed the new quantum sensor that allows this real breakthrough in Brain Imaging and MagnetoEncephaloGraphy. Meanwhile, the European innovation accelerator BLUMORPHO build a complete value chain for this innovation to reach its market.

The magnetometers from CEA-LETI were initially developed for the spatial sector and had proved to be maintenance free. Thanks to BLUMORPHO’s knowledge in cross-fertilisation and to CEA-LETI’s expertise, the investment in the Gateone-project led to a four times improvement of the sensor performance which makes it now usable in MEG.

This innovation will reduce the current cost of an extremely expensive technology by a factor five to six. With this innovation, BLUMORPHO and CEA-LETI will disrupt the MEG market. These devices will address Epilepsy first. Six million people in Europe are living with Epilepsy, 30% are drug resistant.

This new MEG generation can diagnose better, and increase the access to neurosurgery. MEG can also detect early dysfunction of brain in Alzheimer Disease. However, this is just the beginning.

Neuromedicine is following multiple roadmaps with non-invasive surgery and regenerative medicine. This new generation of MEG equipment will deliver visualisation of brain activity to support such evolution and make it happen.

“This innovation award is an important milestone for the launch of future product. It will enable to increase the awareness of the neuro medical community on the future availability of MEG new generation. This innovation will push existing limits to diagnose and cure brain disorders. 165 000 000 people are concerned in Europe. It is one of the biggest challenge we are facing” said Regis Hamelin, BLUMORPHO CTO and Gateone-project project coordinator.

BLUMORPHO and CEA-LETI are proud and honoured that this sensor received this Innovation Radar Prize 2017 as best early stage innovation.

“This award is a very strong and positive recognition of our dedication to support early stage Innovation at a pan European-level” said Geraldine Andrieux Gustin, CEO of BLUMORPHO.