Project description
Automated, waste-free fabrication of ophthalmic lenses
The ERC-funded Fluidic Lens Maker project is developing an automated device for the end-to-end fabrication of ophthalmic lenses using fluidic shaping, a technology originating from another ERC-funded project, Fluidic Shaping. Instead of grinding or molding solid blanks, the approach shapes curable liquid polymers into high-quality optical lenses using surface tension under controlled conditions, eliminating machining and post-processing. The method enables rapid lens production with exceptional optical quality while reducing material waste by over 90 %. This proof-of-concept project focuses on full automation, identification of suitable ophthalmic polymers and validation against industry standards, alongside early market and business development. This technology could enable more sustainable, decentralised lens manufacturing, lowering production costs across global markets.
Objective
In this PoC we propose to develop the Fluidic Lens Maker - a device which will enable rapid, wasteless, and automated end-to-end fabrication of ophthalmic lenses (i.e. vision correction eyeglasses), without relying on complex and expensive infrastructure or elaborate supply chains. The Fluidic Lens Maker will be based on a technology that we have developed as part of our ERC project ‘Fluidic Shaping’, which allows to shape curable liquids into high-quality optics by utilizing the surface tension of the liquid. The lenses are produced in minutes and have an outstanding surface quality without the need for any machining or post-processing. The method provides a reduction of >90% in material waste, which translates to major reductions in the overall cost of the lens. During this PoC we will:
1. Develop full automation of the fabrication steps, which are currently done manually, making the fabrication process independent of the environmental conditions or of the skill level of its operator, thus allowing to improve precision and consistency of the resulting lenses.
2. Explore new materials, both commercially available and specially designed, that are particularly well suited for ophthalmic applications and are compatible with our approach.
3. Test the quality of the resulting lenses using our in-house measuring equipment, and at our industrial partners’ facilities.
4. Connect with key players in developed and developing countries, map potential strategic partners, reach out to receive inputs from VC funds, define the features of an MVP, perform a market research, and develop a preliminary business model.
The project, if successful, would pave the way to an entirely new approach for ophthalmic manufacturing that would reduce costs in the developed world and open up markets that have thus far been untapped – those of developing countries where there are currently over 1 billion people who suffer from uncorrected vision impairment and do not have access to eyewear.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
32000 Haifa
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.