Lithuania’s Scienceforbrain turns EIC Seal of Excellence into €2.5 million to advance real-time brain perfusion monitoring
- ›Scienceforbrain UAB received the EIC Seal of Excellence in 2025 and quickly secured €2.5 million from the Lithuanian Transfer Fund.
- ›EEN2EIC, via the Lithuanian Innovation Centre, provided targeted interview preparation that helped the company navigate the EIC Accelerator process.
- ›The company is developing BrainProtect, a non-invasive, AI-led system that aims to monitor and manage cerebral autoregulation during CPB surgery, ECMO, and ICU care.
- ›Regulatory focus is on CE marking in the EU and FDA clearance in the US, while industry discussions for potential partnerships are ongoing.
- ›Claims of first-of-its-kind performance and rapid detection require robust peer-reviewed evidence and regulatory validation before clinical adoption.
EEN2EIC support helps Scienceforbrain convert EU recognition into national investment
The EEN2EIC project, designed to connect European deep-tech innovators with the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator, supported Lithuanian medtech startup Scienceforbrain UAB ahead of its EIC Accelerator interview. The company subsequently received the EIC Seal of Excellence in 2025 and then secured €2.5 million from the Lithuanian Transfer Fund to push forward the development and commercialisation of its BrainProtect system.
What happened and why it matters
Scienceforbrain, founded in 2023, is building a non-invasive system intended to give clinicians real-time visibility into cerebral autoregulation during high-risk settings such as cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, ECMO treatment, and intensive care. The EIC Seal of Excellence served as a quality label for the project and appears to have catalysed national follow-on financing. The case also illustrates how EEN2EIC aims to improve outcomes at the EIC Accelerator’s most selective stage, where many deep-tech teams struggle to translate complex science into a concise, investor-grade narrative.
Scienceforbrain and BrainProtect: technical ambition rooted in long-running research
Scienceforbrain’s co-founder, Professor Arminas Ragauskas, traces the foundational research to the mid-1990s. Over decades of neurocritical care work across Lithuania, Finland, and the United States, the team accumulated patents and peer-reviewed publications. The company’s stated aim is to make cerebral autoregulation monitoring a standard of care in cardiac surgery and critical care, thereby reducing post-operative cognitive dysfunction and delirium.
According to the company, BrainProtect integrates with heart-lung machines and ECMO devices and is designed to detect impaired cerebral autoregulation in seconds, not minutes. The system couples wearable non-invasive sensing with an AI algorithm to analyse cerebral perfusion dynamics and generate immediate alerts to guide patient-specific management.
How BrainProtect is positioned to work
Company materials describe a three-part system: a wearable sensor for continuous non-invasive monitoring, a controller that interfaces with perfusion equipment and modulates blood flow using short pulses, and software that uses AI to interpret signals associated with intracranial pressure dynamics and vascular status. The pitch is that this approach allows personalised optimisation of brain perfusion before, during, and after procedures without changing clinical workflows.
How it compares to NIRS, according to the company
Near-infrared spectroscopy is widely used to monitor regional cerebral oxygenation, but interpretation can be challenging and depth is limited. Scienceforbrain positions BrainProtect as a faster, deeper, autoregulation-focused alternative based on pressure and fluid dynamics. These are company claims and will need rigorous independent validation.
| Feature | NIRS | BrainProtect (company claims) |
| Coverage | Localized cortical surface, typically bilateral sensors | Assesses both hemispheres simultaneously and separately |
| Depth | Shallow, about 10-15 mm into cortex | Targets global intracranial dynamics transmitted to the eyeball |
| Detection speed | Often 5 minutes or more for sustained changes | 15-30 seconds for autoregulation impairments |
| Signal type | Optical, light absorption | Mechanical or pressure-based signals from fluid dynamics |
| Assesses | Regional oxygen balance | ICP waveform, brain compliance, cerebrovascular resistance |
| External emission | Light emission required | No external light or pressure according to the company |
| Operator dependence | Low but placement sensitive | Low with proper goggle fit, not suitable with eye trauma |
| Validation status | Common in practice, interpretation varies | Claimed validation versus implanted ICP sensors |
The assertion of first-of-its-kind status and rapid detection is common in device marketing and should be weighed against public clinical data and regulatory determinations. Independent trials that link BrainProtect-guided management to improved clinical outcomes will be the critical test for adoption.
From Seal of Excellence to national funding and regulatory next steps
After receiving the EIC Seal of Excellence in 2025, Scienceforbrain closed a €2.5 million investment from the Lithuanian Transfer Fund. The company says this financing will support development and commercialisation activities for BrainProtect. Regulatory priorities include CE marking in the EU and FDA clearance in the United States, prerequisites for market entry and clinical deployment. The team also reports active discussions with major medical device companies regarding potential collaboration.
Regulatory path and classification considerations
Under the EU Medical Device Regulation, a system that influences or controls perfusion parameters during CPB or ECMO could fall into higher risk classes, likely IIb or III, depending on its intended use and the extent of active physiological control. In the US, a predicate pathway via 510(k) may be uncertain for an autoregulation management system, which could necessitate a De Novo request. These determinations shape trial design, evidence thresholds, and timelines. Until notified body assessment in the EU and FDA decisions are public, performance and safety claims should be treated as provisional.
Adoption hurdles in European hospital markets
Even with regulatory clearance, diffusion into perfusion and critical care practice hinges on multicentre evidence that shows reduced neurological complications, shortened length of stay, or cost savings. Procurement cycles, integration with incumbent heart-lung machine vendors, staff training, and reimbursement policies will influence uptake. NIRS is widely available and bundled into existing platforms, so displacement requires more than technical superiority. It requires demonstrable clinical and economic value in real-world settings.
What EEN2EIC actually provided
The EIC Accelerator interview stage is exacting. Deep-tech founders often face tough questioning on IP defensibility, go-to-market strategy, regulatory plans, and capital intensity in addition to the science. Through the Lithuanian Innovation Centre, a partner in the EEN2EIC consortium, Scienceforbrain received expert-led interview preparation. Work focused on sharpening the pitch, clarifying the strategic narrative, and rehearsing precise answers to technical and business questions typical of EIC jury panels.
Co-founder Prof. Arminas Ragauskas said the team set a two-year goal to win the EIC Accelerator competition, adding that their proposal was grounded in fundamental science with perceived breakthrough potential and field-transforming value. He praised EEN2EIC’s responsiveness and expertise, remarking that the support was on par with US organisations and describing the Lithuanian experts as “magic people” for their dedication to the company’s success.
Timeline and milestones
| Year | Milestone | Notes |
| 1993–1995 | Foundational research begins | Origins of the team’s neurocritical care work |
| 2023 | Scienceforbrain UAB founded | Focus on preventing brain damage during CPB, ECMO, ICU |
| 2025 | EIC Seal of Excellence awarded | Quality label at EIC Accelerator stage |
| 2025 | €2.5 million national funding | Investment from the Lithuanian Transfer Fund |
| 2026 | Regulatory and partnering focus | Pursuit of CE marking and FDA clearance; industry discussions ongoing |
What to watch next
Key signals of progress will include the start and outcomes of multicentre trials in Europe, publication of peer-reviewed evidence comparing BrainProtect-guided management versus standard of care, notified body opinions and CE certificate details under MDR, clarity on the FDA pathway and any De Novo or 510(k) decisions, and the substance of any announced OEM or distribution partnerships. Health technology assessment and reimbursement decisions in priority markets will also be decisive for adoption.
Data handling in the EIC process
Applicants navigating the EIC Accelerator should note that EISMEA processes personal data for evaluations, interviews, coaching and community services under Regulation 2018/1725. Data may be shared with authorised Commission staff, vetted contractors and relevant stakeholders for defined purposes, with retention limits that vary by role and outcome. EU Login credentials are required for access to EIC IT tools and some interview-related identity data are collected to verify legal links and permit access to Commission premises.
Context on EU innovation instruments
The Seal of Excellence is increasingly used by national agencies to channel funds to strong but unfunded EIC proposals. This can shorten time-to-capital for ventures that perform well in EU-level assessments but miss direct EIC budget. EEN2EIC’s value-add tends to be practical and immediate, such as interview coaching and investor preparation. While such support can improve outcomes at the margin, long-term success still depends on clinical validation, regulatory approvals, and market execution.
Sources and availability
Details on the EEN2EIC support and the Seal of Excellence were drawn from the EIC Community announcement. Technical positioning and comparative claims for BrainProtect are based on the company’s public product materials. The full success story is available via the EEN2EIC project website.