Objective
"Over 43 million people worldwide live with blindness and 295 million with severe visual impairment. For this significant minority daily navigation is extremely challenging, with 50% unable to make necessary journeys. No digital solution can be depended upon for safe orientation especially in complex cities where GPS often fails and the need is greatest. The standard guide cane and guide dog remain the norm.
MakeSense Technology, founded in 2021 after a research breakthrough at Imperial College London, has developed Vector, a non‑visual haptic guidance device that delivers continuous, centimetre‑level navigation by combining advanced satellite positioning, smartphone cameras, and motion sensors. Trials show that Vector can give blind users confidence comparable to a guide dog or human companion, at a fraction of the cost and without reliance on another living being.
This project will move Vector from a validated handheld device to a hands-free, industrialisation-ready system and remove the remaining barriers to independent travel. We will strengthen our positioning for dense ""urban canyon"" streets and prove safety and reliability through field trials with blind volunteers in four countries. In parallel, we will set up scalable manufacturing, secure CE marking, develop reimbursement pathways, and build partnerships with specialist distributors across Europe, with US market expansion planned for subsequent phases.
The same high‑precision positioning platform and guidance interface can also support adjacent markets, including hands‑free navigation for first responders, screen‑free consumer navigation, warehouse stock location guidance, and safety‑critical geofencing for construction, while advancing social inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable urban mobility."
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 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals
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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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HORIZON.3.1.2 - The Accelerator
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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-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-2026-ACCELERATOR-02
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
SW8 4FN London
United Kingdom
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.