Imagine trying to spot a disease before any symptoms appear — you'd need a camera so powerful it can see individual molecules inside living cells. That's essentially what this project built: a collection of super-sharp optical instruments that let doctors look deep into the eye, the heart, and even single cells to catch problems early. Think of it like upgrading from a basic phone camera to a professional microscope — except these tools work on living patients, in real time. A team of 14 young researchers across 9 labs in 5 countries each tackled a different piece of this puzzle, producing 12 working prototypes along the way.
Early diagnosis of eye diseases, cardiac conditions, and cellular-level disorders depends on imaging technology that is often too slow, too imprecise, or requires too much operator expertise. Clinics need autonomous instruments that deliver consistent results without specialist technicians running every scan. Medical device companies need next-generation optical components to stay competitive in a market moving toward molecular-level diagnostics.
The project produced 12 working prototypes including: an autonomous OCT system for clinical eye exams with control software and user interface, a hyperspectral imaging instrument for the ocular fundus, an SS-OCT system for heart imaging, endoscopic and fibre-optic FRET imaging systems, fluorescence decay-based multiplexing, combined SOFI-Light-Sheet and Airy beam Light-Sheet microscopes, and a system for living cell membrane imaging using nanostructured substrates.
If you are an ophthalmic instrument company struggling with slow, manual eye exams — this project developed a fully autonomous OCT system for vision evaluation in a clinical environment, plus a hyperspectral imaging instrument for dynamic recording of the ocular fundus. These prototypes were designed to work without constant operator input, which could cut exam times and improve diagnostic consistency.
If you are a medical device company looking to expand into molecular-level diagnostics — this project produced prototypes for endoscopic FRET imaging, fibre-optic FRET imaging, and fluorescence decay-based multiplexing. With 12 demonstrated prototypes across 4 work packages, these could serve as the technical foundation for next-generation diagnostic instruments.
If you are a microscopy company seeking to offer super-resolution capabilities at lower cost — this project built working prototypes of a combined SOFI-Light-Sheet microscope and an Airy beam Light-Sheet microscope. These instruments enable imaging of living cell membranes and cellular processes at resolutions beyond conventional limits, opening new product lines for research customers.
Based on available project data, specific licensing costs are not disclosed. The project was a Marie Curie training network (MSCA-ITN-ETN), so IP arrangements depend on each partner institution. The 2 industrial partners in the consortium may already have preferential access to certain results.
The 12 demonstrated prototypes range from lab-bench instruments to one OCT system explicitly designed for autonomous clinical use with control software and user interface. Scaling to production would require engineering partnerships, but the clinical-ready OCT prototype suggests at least some technologies are close to manufacturability.
IP from MSCA-ITN projects typically belongs to the institution where the work was performed. With 7 academic groups and 2 non-academic partners across 5 countries, licensing would need to be negotiated with each relevant partner. The coordinator at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya can direct inquiries.
Based on available project data, none of the 12 prototypes have received regulatory clearance. However, the OCT system for vision evaluation was specifically designed for clinical environments with autonomous operation, suggesting it was built with a regulatory pathway in mind.
The project ran from 2015 to 2019 and produced working prototypes. Given that several prototypes are at the demonstration stage, a realistic timeline to a commercial product would depend on regulatory requirements and further engineering. The ophthalmic instruments are likely closest to market given clinical testing.
The OCT clinical prototype includes control software and a user interface, suggesting it was designed as a standalone instrument. The endoscopic and fibre-optic FRET systems are built on standard optical fibre technology, which should ease integration with existing endoscopy platforms.
The project closed in September 2019. The 14 trained researchers have dispersed across European institutions and industry. The 2 industrial partners — a fluorescence instrumentation company and an ophthalmology clinic — may be continuing development independently.
The BE-OPTICAL consortium brings together 9 partners across 5 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Poland, UK), with a 22% industry ratio — 2 industrial partners alongside 5 universities and 2 research organizations. The 2 SMEs in the group include a fluorescence instrumentation company and an internationally recognized ophthalmology clinic, both bringing direct commercial and clinical relevance. While the project is primarily a training network, having instrument makers and clinicians embedded in the consortium means the 12 prototypes were shaped by real market and patient needs, not just academic curiosity. For a business looking to license or co-develop, the Spanish coordinator at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya is the entry point, but the industrial partners are likely the ones closest to commercializing specific technologies.
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain) — contact via university technology transfer office or project website
Want to explore licensing one of the 12 imaging prototypes or connecting with the industrial partners? SciTransfer can arrange a targeted introduction to the right consortium member for your specific application.
