Project description
Non-invasive solution for sustainable beekeeping
Honeybees are crucial for pollinating over 75 % of food crops, but face threats from diseases such as American foulbrood, Nosema, and Varroa. Ineffective detection methods lead to losses of over EUR 212 million annually in Europe, where 36 % of colonies are lost each year. The EIC-funded S.A.F.E. project aims to create a non-invasive solution using IoT sensors, AI, and satellite imagery to monitor bee pathogens. This will reduce the use of chemical treatments and support sustainable beekeeping. S.A.F.E. plans to achieve a 5 % market share. The solution seeks to cut bee colony losses by 80 % and reduce operational costs, contributing to more sustainable food production.
Objective
Honeybees are essential for pollinating over 75% of the world's food crops, yet they face unprecedented threats from diseases such as American and European foulbrood, Nosema, and Varroa. Traditional detection methods, such as manual inspections, are slow, labor-intensive, and often ineffective in preventing significant economic losses, which can exceed €212 million annually due to hive destruction and reduced productivity. In Europe alone, up to 36% of honeybee colonies are lost each year. Apisense introduces a proprietary breakthrough solution—a non-invasive method that integrates IoT multimodal sensors, an AI-driven engine, and satellite imagery to provide real-time monitoring and predictive analytics for bee pathogens. This innovative approach enhances disease detection with 95% accuracy, enabling proactive management, significantly reducing the need for chemical treatments, and supporting sustainable beekeeping practices. Our Total Addressable Market (TAM), based on a global count of 101 million beehives (with an annual growth rate of 1.15%) and our system’s pricing, is projected to reach €9.4 billion by 2030. We aim to capture a 5% market share through a dual revenue model that combines one-time device sales with a monthly subscription-based analytics service. Our business model focuses on reducing bee colony losses by up to 80% and cutting operational costs by a factor of 23, delivering substantial savings to beekeepers. By 2031, Apisense aims to surpass €78 million in accumulated revenue, reinforcing its position as a young, fast-growing startup. Beyond financial impact, Apisense supports EU initiatives for organic beekeeping, lowers entry barriers for new beekeepers, and promotes sustainable practices that reduce the environmental footprint of apiculture. By improving pollination efficiency and significantly decreasing bee disease incidence, Apisense enhances global crop yields and contributes to the long-term sustainability of food production.
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.
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.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering satellite technology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology apidology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science apiculture
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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-EIC-ACC - HORIZON EIC Accelerator
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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) HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02
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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.
30-699 Krakow
Poland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.