Oivi and the EIC Accelerator: A Cheap Eye Camera for Clinics

Oivi, founded in Oslo in 2017 by Anders Eikenes and Khaleel Udyavar, makes a portable camera that automatically photographs the retina so that primary care staff can screen people with diabetes for diabetic retinopathy. Its EIC project said the disease is the most common cause of blindness among working-age adults, that existing screening cameras are expensive and need trained operators, and that it wanted to "mature the device and its diagnostic functionalities, to clinically validate our solution and to assure regulatory approvals", according to CORDIS.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,499,999 towards a €3.62 million project in 2023 and 2024. The final report says preliminary clinical validation began with hospitals in India in 2021 and set out a plan to launch in India and the US in 2024 and a second product with integrated AI diagnostics in 2026. Oivi registered with the FDA in early 2024 and launched in the US in spring 2025, starting in Florida, according to the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Florida. Its website now counts 185,000 patients screened and 10,702 cases of diabetic retinopathy found. The Norwegian parent company reported revenue of NOK 70,000 and a net loss of NOK 22.8 million for 2025, according to the Brønnøysund Register Centre.

Where Oivi Stands Now

Oivi set up its US base in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and has also started working with clients in South Carolina, Virginia and New York, the chamber reported. It sells the screening as a routine part of a primary care visit that helps clinics earn insurance reimbursements and quality bonuses. The company is exploring glaucoma, macular degeneration and cardiovascular risk as further uses. Oivi's website showed 9,135 patients screened in the previous month, or about 338 a day.

The Technology: Automatic Retinal Photography

The camera combines optics, robotics and automatic alignment so that it can find and photograph the back of the eye without a trained photographer, and integrates AI to support diagnosis. The report says only 10 to 15% of people with diabetes worldwide have access to screening programmes, and that in India 80 to 90% of patients pay out of pocket, so a low price per scan matters.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The project aimed to mature the device, validate it clinically and secure approvals. The device reached the US market, and the company's screening counts show real use. The report does not publish clinical validation results, and whether the AI diagnostic is cleared for use in Europe or the US is not stated. CORDIS still lists the project as signed.

1. Mature deviceDeliveredIn routine use.
2. Market launchDeliveredUS, 2025.
3. Clinical validation dataNot publishedNot in report.
4. Commercial scaleUnclearParent revenue NOK 70k.

The Money

Oivi AS ended 2025 with equity of NOK 49.3 million. Its tiny reported revenue belongs to the Norwegian parent alone; figures for its US and Indian operations are not in that filing. No EIC Fund investment has been announced.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

The report says diabetic retinopathy affects more than 100 million people. The EIC helped a Norwegian company bring affordable screening to places without eye specialists, starting with clinical work in India and a US launch rather than Europe.

The Verdict

Oivi and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.