Project description
Enhancing optical coherence tomography accessibility
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an essential imaging tool in ophthalmology and is gaining traction in dermatology, cardiology, and industrial inspection. However, its potential is limited by the lack of real-time en-face visualisation and by the cost and complexity of the hardware. The EIC-funded INTEGRAL project aims to introduce integrated photonic technologies. Key innovations include the Down-conversion Leader-Follower (DLF) processor for direct optical signal processing and the Akinetic Dispersive Laser (ADL) for fast, stable illumination. These developments will enable real-time, high-speed imaging at over 5 MHz. The results will enhance OCT accessibility in clinics, pharmacies, and homes, establishing a robust EU supply chain in the growing medical imaging market.
Objective
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful and scalable imaging platform, indispensable in ophthalmology and increasingly relevant in dermatology, cardiology, and industrial inspection. Yet its broader potential remains constrained by the lack of real-time en-face visualization and reliance on bulky, high-cost hardware.
INTEGRAL addresses these challenges by rethinking OCT architecture from source to signal, introducing integrated photonic technologies that eliminate long-standing bottlenecks.
At its core are two breakthrough innovations: a Down-conversion Leader-Follower (DLF) photonic processor that performs direct optical-domain signal processing without FFT or resampling, and an Akinetic Dispersive Laser (ADL) providing fast, stable, compact swept-source illumination with no moving parts. Implemented as photonic integrated circuits, these components enable real-time, multi-depth en-face imaging at sweep rates beyond 5 MHz—an order of magnitude faster than today’s commercial systems.
INTEGRAL targets two key OCT wavelength bands—1060nm for deep tissue penetration and 840nm for high-resolution imaging—delivering a compact, modular engine compatible with current and next-gen systems. By eliminating the need for highspeed digitization and enabling instant visual feedback, INTEGRAL unlocks new applications across ophthalmology, surgery, dermatology & industrial inspection.
The project brings together world-leading expertise in photonic integration, OCT, and medical device manufacturing in a high-risk, high-gain initiative that aims to rewrite the technological foundations of medical imaging. If successful, INTEGRAL will enable widespread OCT adoption not just in clinics, but also in general practices, pharmacies, and even homes—supporting accessible health monitoring. This lays a strong foundation for post-project commercial exploitation and TRL scaling, establishing a sovereign EU supply chain and leadership in a high-value, fast-growing global market.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine surgery
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine dermatology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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)
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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.
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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.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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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.
T12 P928 Cork
Ireland
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.