1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator program is a key component of the European Innovation Council (EIC), designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups that are developing innovative technologies, particularly in the DeepTech sector. This program aims to accelerate the market entry and growth of high-risk, high-potential innovations, fostering the development of breakthrough solutions that can address significant societal challenges.

The EIC Accelerator offers a blended finance model, which combines grants and equity investments to support innovative projects. Under this framework, companies can receive grants of up to €2.5 million to cover project costs, such as research and development, prototyping, testing, and scaling of their innovations. Additionally, the program provides equity investments that were capped at €15 million until 2024 and will be reduced to €10 million from 2025 onwards. This financial support is designed to help companies not only with initial funding but also to attract private investment by validating their innovation and business potential.

The primary purpose of the EIC Accelerator is to bolster the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem by facilitating access to finance and resources that enable companies to scale their innovations. The program aims to bridge the gap between early-stage funding and later-stage investments, ensuring that promising technologies can transition from concept to commercialization. By reducing the financial risks associated with innovation, the EIC Accelerator encourages entrepreneurs to pursue ambitious ideas that may otherwise struggle to find support in the private sector.

One notable winner of the EIC Accelerator program is SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS, a French company that specializes in developing medical technologies aimed at preventing device-related infections. Their project, acronymed SPARTHACUS, focuses on creating innovative multifunctional and smart coatings for medical devices. This project received blended finance support under the EIC Accelerator, reflecting its potential to address a critical issue in healthcare.

SPARTHA MEDICAL’s technology revolves around the development of advanced coatings that can be applied to medical devices to prevent infections, a significant concern in healthcare settings. Device-related infections are a leading cause of complications and extended hospital stays, which can result in increased healthcare costs and poorer patient outcomes. The SPARTHACUS project aims to leverage cutting-edge materials science and engineering to create coatings that not only inhibit bacterial growth but also actively promote healing and tissue integration.

The technology underlying SPARTHACUS involves the application of smart materials that can respond to environmental stimuli. These coatings are designed to release antimicrobial agents in response to the presence of bacteria, thereby preventing the establishment of infections. The innovation lies in the dual functionality of the coatings—providing a protective barrier while also facilitating enhanced interactions with body tissues, which is crucial for the success of implanted devices.

By winning the EIC Accelerator funding, SPARTHA MEDICAL is positioned to significantly advance its research and development efforts, moving closer to bringing its innovative coatings to market. The financial backing not only supports the technical development of SPARTHACUS but also enhances the company’s ability to attract further investments, ensuring a solid foundation for scaling its operations and addressing a pressing need within the medical community.

In summary, the EIC Accelerator plays a vital role in nurturing the European innovation landscape by providing necessary funding and support to startups and SMEs like SPARTHA MEDICAL. Through the SPARTHACUS project, the company is set to make a significant impact on medical device safety and efficacy, reflecting the broader goal of the EIC Accelerator to foster innovation that addresses real-world challenges.

2 The Funding Rounds

Financing Raised by SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS (France) Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Overview

SPARTHA Medical SAS, founded in 2019 and based in Strasbourg, France, specializes in multifunctional antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory coatings primarily for medical devices. The company has been actively raising funds to support its R&D and commercialization efforts since winning the EIC Accelerator award (submitted Step 2 proposal: October 6, 2021).

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Funding Rounds and Amounts

• First Funding Round (Seed/Pre-Seed)
• Date: October–December 2021
• Amount: €1.4 million (~$1.6 million)
• Investors:
• Alsace Business Angels
• Yeast
• Wiseed SA
• Scal’E-nov (involved later; timing not fully specified)
• Purpose: To develop customized coatings for medical applications.
• EIC Accelerator Grant & Equity Investment
• Date Announced: February–March 2022
• Amount:
• $2.7 million (€2.4 million) as grant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC).
• Additional equity investment from the EIC Fund (“undisclosed amount”) was also provided.

• Funds were intended to accelerate clinical evaluation of Spartha’s coating platform.
• Cumulative Funding Raised
• As of early/mid-2023: Total funding reported approximately $7.06 million.
• This figure includes seed funding rounds, public grants—including regional/national French innovation bodies—and the major EIC grant/equity package.

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Timing of Funding Rounds

Date	Type	Amount	Investors/Source
Oct–Dec 2021	Seed Round	€1.4M (~$1.6M)	Alsace Business Angels, Yeast, Wiseed SA
Feb–Mar 2022	Grant + Equity	$2.7M grant + undisclosed equity	European Innovation Council/EIC Fund
Jan/early '23	Seed Extension? / Additional Support	Not specified/N.A.	Scal’E-nov

</em>Dates refer to announcement or close dates; some rounding overlap exists between late Q4’21 and Q1’22.

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Investor Information

Key investors across these rounds include: - Alsace Business Angels

• Wiseed SA
• Yeast
• Scal’E-nov (French accelerator/funding body)
• European Innovation Council Fund

The University of Strasbourg, INSERM and SATT Conectus were involved as spinout supporters at inception but are not listed as financial investors post-spinout.

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Company Valuations

Available public data indicates an enterprise valuation estimate around $2 million as of November 2021—prior to closing its first significant external round(s). No more recent valuation figures are available from public sources following subsequent funding/investment events.

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Exit Events: IPOs or Buyouts

As of April 23, 2025:

There is no evidence that SPARTHA Medical has undergone an initial public offering (IPO), buyout/acquisition event or other exit transaction.

The company remains privately held with ongoing development activities focused on scaling up its clinical evaluation programs for antimicrobial coatings.

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Summary Table – SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS Recent Financing Activity

Date	Round	Amount Raised	Key Investors
Oct-Dec ’21	Seed	€1.4M ($~$ US$ ~$ US ~$)
Feb-Mar ’22 Grant + Equity €2.4M ($2.7M grant) (equity undisclosed)	European Innovation Council/Fund
Up to early '23 Total cumulative ~$7M+ Multiple incl. Scal'E-nov

No acquisition or IPO has occurred up through April 23rd 2025.

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Sources

Spartha Medical awarded $2.7M by European Commission SPARTHA Medical raised €1.4M SPARTHA Medical on Crustdata Antimicrobial Coatings for Medical Devices Market Size SPARTHA MEDICAL company info on Startup Luxembourg Directory Dealroom profile – SPARTHA MEDICAL International Grand Est Developpement Success Story – Spartha Medical BioWorld Antimicrobials article keyword page Business Intelligence Odense profile – Spartha_Medical

3 The Press Releases

SPARTHA Medical SAS, a French MedTech company founded in 2019 and based in Strasbourg, has made significant strides since receiving the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding following their Step 2 proposal submission on October 6, 2021. Their core innovation lies in multifunctional antimicrobial coatings derived from natural biopolymers with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties designed to protect medical devices and surfaces from infections while addressing antibiotic resistance.

Key Developments Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Funding and Growth

• In early 2022, SPARTHA Medical was awarded approximately €2.4 million ($2.7 million) in grants plus undisclosed equity financing by the European Innovation Council Fund to support clinical evaluations of their multifunctional coating technology.
• The funding supports clinical trials for a "medical coating kit" intended for use on implants and wounds tailored to patient immune profiles; this kit is scheduled for launch around 2023.
• They aim to strengthen infrastructure, hire new talent, achieve regulatory compliance including ISO certification, develop next-generation coatings addressing post-operative infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and expand customized coating development services leveraging artificial intelligence.

Technology Innovations

• SPARTHA’s patented coatings are nano-/microscale films based on natural polymers (biopolymers such as polypeptides and polysaccharides), which maintain antimicrobial activity even after long-term storage or sterilization.
• These coatings have demonstrated efficacy against various bacteria strains including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with proven antimicrobial effects both in vitro and in vivo alongside anti-inflammatory benefits around implants.
• Their solutions include personalized implant-specific coatings reducing infection risk by inhibiting microbial proliferation directly on device surfaces; these can be sterilized, stored long term without losing effectiveness at implantation time.
• Additionally, they develop sprayable surface coatings free of alcohol or chlorinated derivatives as safer alternatives to hydroalcoholic gels for hospital hygiene applications that protect against resistant bacterial strains without impairing surface function.

Research & Collaborations

• SPARTHA Medical participates in large collaborative projects like PANBioRA focusing on biosensor performance improvements as well as broader biomaterial risk assessment initiatives involving multiple European partners with budgets nearing €8 million.
• The company also launched Project KISSMat targeting discovery of new antimicrobial solutions across medical devices, cosmetics, and food sectors through regional partnerships within France’s Grand Est region.

Team Updates

To drive ongoing innovation efforts related to biopolymer-based coatings development including antiviral sprays under evolving biocidal regulations (targeting markets such as Europe, US & Japan), SPARTHA Medical expanded its team with new research scientists working specifically on advanced multifunctional bio-coatings development since late 2021 or early 2022.

Partnerships & Market Expansion

SPARTHA Medical is actively building strategic partnerships:

• They joined the France Biotech network enhancing collaboration opportunities within French biotech ecosystems focused on healthcare innovations.
• Support from regional economic agencies like Grand Est Développement International facilitates international expansion efforts especially toward US & Japanese markets.

The company’s multidisciplinary team exceeds twenty experts spanning medical device design/development through data science aiming at delivering tailored infection prevention solutions compatible with growing demands for sustainability.

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In summary: Since winning EIC Accelerator funding in October 2021, SPARTHA Medical SAS has leveraged financial support (~€2.4M grant + equity) to advance clinical validation of their patented multifunctional antimicrobial/antiviral/anti-inflammatory natural polymer-based coatings targeted mainly at implantable medical devices but also applicable broadly for hospital hygiene purposes. They have expanded their expert team focused on R&D innovation while pursuing regulatory compliance steps. Strategic collaborations regionally within France's biotech ecosystem plus ambitions toward global market entry underpin their growth trajectory aiming ultimately at combating antibiotic resistance via sustainable bio-intelligent technologies.

Sources

• Spartha Medical News
• Spartha Medical Website
• BioWorld Article - Spartha Awarded $2.7M
• Grand Est Development Story
• Labmate Online - Growth Boost Article
• French Healthcare Magazine
• Spartha Innovation Page

-Spartha Research And Innovation Page

4 The Technology Advancements

Spartha Medical SAS: Current Capabilities and Advancements

Spartha Medical, a French medtech company founded in 2019 and based in Strasbourg, specializes in developing innovative multifunctional coatings with antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. These coatings are designed to prevent infections and promote wound healing, addressing significant challenges like hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance.

Current Capabilities

• Coating Technology: Spartha Medical utilizes natural biopolymers to create coatings that are biocompatible and can be applied to various surfaces, including implantable medical devices and surfaces that need sterilization.
• Applications: The company focuses on two primary areas: personalized coatings for implantable medical devices to reduce infection risks and alcohol-free sprays for surface sterilization, offering an alternative to traditional hydroalcoholic gels.
• Staff and Expertise: With a team of over 20 experts, Spartha Medical combines expertise in medical device design, coating technologies, data science, and business development.

Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

In October 2021, Spartha Medical received significant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, including a €2.4 million grant and additional equity financing. This funding has been pivotal in advancing their technology and business development:

• Clinical Trials: The funds have enabled the initiation of clinical trials to evaluate their multifunctional coating solutions, which have shown promise against resistant bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
• Innovation and Development: With the EIC funding, Spartha Medical has strengthened its infrastructure and expanded its team, focusing on next-generation coatings and enhancing partnerships.
• Market Demonstration: The company has established contracts with medtech companies for the clinical use of their coatings, indicating progress in demonstrating their technology in real-world applications.

Technology Improvements and New Features

Since receiving the EIC funding, Spartha Medical has continued to refine its coating technology, focusing on:

• Antimicrobial and Antiviral Efficacy: Demonstrated effectiveness against a wide range of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA), and viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
• Personalized Coatings: Developed customized coatings for implantable devices, which remain effective even after long-term storage and sterilization.
• Expansion into New Markets: Their technology is applicable to various consumer products and medical devices, positioning them for broader market entry.

Patents, Scientific Studies, and Clinical Trials

While specific details on new patents or scientific studies published since the funding are not explicitly mentioned, Spartha Medical's ongoing research and development efforts are supported by their participation in collaborative European projects like PANBioRA and Horizon Europe initiatives. These projects help advance their technology and contribute to the broader scientific community.

Conclusion

Spartha Medical has leveraged the EIC Accelerator funding to accelerate its growth, enhance its coating technology, and expand its market presence. Their advancements in clinical trials and partnerships highlight their progress in combating antimicrobial resistance and promoting safer medical practices.

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Sources

• Spartha Medical | Innovative Antimicrobial Coatings
• NEWS - Spartha Medical
• Spartha Medical a disruptive startup from Eastern France
• Spartha Medical receives €2.4M in financing from European Innovation Council
• Innovator Spotlight with Engin Vrana from SPARTHA Medical
• Spartha Medical awarded $2.7M by European Commission to develop antiviral coatings
• Research + Innovation - Spartha Medical
• Archives des Achievements and recognition - Spartha Medical

5 The Partnerships and Customers

SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS Partnerships and Strategic Collaborations Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing €2.4M in grants and equity financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) in late 2021, SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS has prioritized collaborative projects and co-development agreements to advance its antimicrobial coating technology. Below are key partnerships, customers, and their strategic impacts:

Core Partners

• SATT Conectus: Supported early-stage technology development (2016–2018).
• SEMIA: Incubated SPARTHA post-founding (2019).
• Inserm UMR 1121: Origin of foundational research for antimicrobial coatings.

Collaborative Projects

SPARTHA leads or participates in EU-funded consortia:

• TOXBOX (16 partners across 9 countries): Develops toxicity assessment tools for safer chemical monitoring.
• NET4MAT (13 partners across 7 countries): Creates biodegradable antimicrobial plastics for food packaging.
• Bio-Tune (10 partners): Delivered multifunctional coatings for medical devices, completed in 2024.
• Bioface (7 partners): Enhances facial reconstruction implants with infection-resistant coatings.

Co-Development Agreements

The company secured partnerships with:

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Market Positioning and Technological Advancements Through Partnerships

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Sources Used

• Spartha Medical receives €2.4M in financing from European Innovation Council
• Advancing Innovation Through Collaborative Projects

-Spartha Medical | EuroQuity -SPARTHA Medical a disruptive startup from Eastern France -ABOUT US - SPARTHA's Team, Story and Supports

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS, a French MedTech startup founded in 2019 and based in Strasbourg, has shown steady team growth and development since receiving EIC Accelerator funding after submitting their Step 2 proposal on October 6, 2021. Here are the key points regarding their hiring, headcount, and team evolution:

Team Size and Growth

• As of recent information from late 2023 to early 2024, SPARTHA Medical has a multidisciplinary team of over 20 employees. This includes experts across medical device design and development, coating technologies, science, technology, quality control, data science, business development, and sustainability.
• The company started with three co-founders in 2019: Dr. Nihal Engin Vrana (CEO), Dr. Philippe Lavalle (CSO), and Dr. Angela Mutschler. The growth to about 20 staff indicates measured scaling over approximately four years.

Current Hiring Status

• While explicit current hiring announcements or open positions for SPARTHA Medical were not found directly in the sources reviewed here, given their innovative activities supported by EIC funding aimed at clinical evaluations (project "SPARTHACUS"), it is typical for such startups to recruit talent especially in R&D and regulatory affairs as they scale.
• Their involvement at industry events like MedFit 2023 suggests active engagement within the ecosystem which often correlates with recruitment drives.

Key Positions Recently Hired & Impact on Future Growth

• Specific details of recent hires or exact roles filled were not publicly detailed; however:
• The founding core includes leadership in strategy/commercialization (CEO), innovation/R&D (CSO), along with advisory board members covering surface chemistry expertise, clinical immunology experts for trials/clinical validation as well as regulatory affairs specialists.
• Expansion likely targets further scientific researchers specialized in antimicrobial coatings technology.
• Business-related roles such as commercialization partners support scaling efforts.

The addition of such diverse expertise enables Spartha Medical to advance product development pipelines towards market readiness while addressing regulatory compliance critical for medical devices.

Management Changes

There is no public indication of major changes within the founding or management teams since establishment; original co-founders remain prominent leaders guiding the company’s trajectory.

Implications for Company Scaling

• Growing from a founding trio to a multidisciplinary team exceeding twenty professionals demonstrates purposeful scaling matching technological maturation stages post-EIC Accelerator support.
• New team members presumably bolster capabilities needed for:
• Deployment of innovations into clinical evaluation phases,
• Regulatory navigation,
• Production scale-up preparation,
• Market entry strategies,

and thus accelerating commercialization timelines.

This staffing progression aligns with Spartha Medical’s mission to revolutionize infection prevention using bio-intelligent antimicrobial coatings tailored both for implantable medical devices and sterilizable surfaces—a sector projected to expand significantly over coming years due to rising healthcare needs around antibiotic resistance control.

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Summary

Since winning EIC Accelerator funding following its October 6th, 2021 submission date:

• SPARTHA MEDICAL grew from its initial founders into a multidisciplinary team exceeding 20 employees by late 2023/early 2024.
• No major management changes reported; founders remain leading figures.
• While specific recent hires are undisclosed publicly currently there is strong indication that expansion focuses on R&D scientists plus regulatory/business roles supporting clinical translation and market readiness under project SPARTHACUS.
• This controlled growth supports Spartha’s strategy toward commercializing innovative antimicrobial coatings helping scale operations effectively.

Sources: Spartha Medical Official Website
Spartha Medical About Us
Spartha Medical Grand Est Development Article
MedFit Event Participant List

7 The Media Features and Publications

Overview of SPARTHA MEDICAL SAS

SPARTHA Medical SAS is a French Health Tech startup based in Strasbourg, France. The company was founded in 2019 and focuses on developing multifunctional coatings with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. These innovative coatings are designed to address nosocomial infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria by preventing microbial growth on implantable medical devices and surfaces.

Media Features and Publications

SPARTHA Medical SAS has been featured in several publications, notably for its innovative approach to combating infections. One of the significant mentions is by BioWorld, which reported that SPARTHA Medical received $2.7 million from the European Commission to develop antiviral coatings. Additionally, the company has been highlighted in Dealflow.eu as a promising startup in the Health Tech sector, recognized for its groundbreaking coating technology.

Podcasts and Interviews

Engin Vrana, CEO of SPARTHA Medical, has participated in interviews highlighting the company's mission and innovations. In an interview with Dealflow.eu, Vrana discussed the company's focus on creating multifunctional coatings that can significantly impact healthcare by reducing infections.

Conference and Fair Participation

While specific details on SPARTHA Medical's participation in conferences and fairs are not readily available, the company's involvement in EU-funded projects and its role as a scientific coordinator in the Horizon Europe NOVA project suggest active engagement with the broader MedTech community.

Event Involvement

SPARTHA Medical has been part of various EU-funded initiatives, including the Horizon Europe NOVA project, which focuses on developing antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal coatings. This involvement underscores the company's commitment to contributing to the development of innovative healthcare solutions.

Sources:

• Spartha Medical
• NEWS - Spartha Medical
• Spartha Medical awarded $2.7M by European Commission to develop antiviral coatings
• SPARTHA Medical a disruptive startup from Eastern France
• Innovator Spotlight with Engin Vrana from SPARTHA Medical