Cultivating hope one star sperm at a time

Project Information

Spermotile

Grant agreement ID: 101215323

DOI

10.3030/101215323

EC signature date 18 March 2025

Start date 1 April 2025

End date 30 September 2027

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 499 906,25

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITETET I TROMSOE - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Spermotile (Cultivating hope one star sperm at a time)

Reporting period: 2025-04-01 to 2026-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Male infertility contributes to about 40 % of fertility challenges faced by couples globally. Assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) depend on selecting high-quality sperm, but current methods are outdated, inefficient and prone to human error. The EIC-funded Spermotile project is developing an AI-automated platform to transform sperm selection in ART. The proposed solution will identify and select optimal sperm in an efficient and non-invasive manner. The platform will integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and is expected to enhance ART success rates by up to 12 %, while cutting costs. Spermotile aims to revolutionise male infertility treatment and cultivate hope for families one star sperm at a time.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the reporting period, the project focused on advancing the core technological components of the Spermotile system. Work concentrated on defining and implementing a modular system architecture and progressing towards an integrated functional prototype. Key efforts included optimization of the imaging approach to achieve robust and scalable operation, development of the software framework, and iterative design and fabrication of the consumable component.

A significant portion of the work addressed challenges related to data generation and analysis for the computational module, resulting in the establishment of internal methods and tools to support reliable data processing and model development. Prototype subsystems have been tested individually, and integration activities are ongoing to enable full system functionality.

Overall, the project has achieved a consolidated system design, partial validation of key technological elements, and substantial progress toward a functional prototype suitable for further testing. These outcomes provide a technical foundation for subsequent stages of system integration, performance evaluation, and validation in relevant environments.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During the reporting period, the project established a coherent technological foundation for an integrated system for sperm selection. Key subsystems have been developed and partially validated, with ongoing integration toward a functional prototype, demonstrating early technical feasibility of automated, criteria-based selection.

These results indicate potential for more standardized and automated workflows in assisted reproduction, subject to further validation. To enable uptake, key needs include continued system integration and technical validation, demonstration in relevant clinical settings, and progression toward manufacturability and regulatory compliance. Access to funding and industrial partnerships will be important to support these next steps.