1 The EIC Accelerator Project
EIC Accelerator Program Overview
The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies. This initiative is particularly focused on deep tech sectors, where scientific and engineering advancements can lead to transformative products and services.
The EIC Accelerator offers a unique funding structure known as "blended finance," which combines grants and equity investments. The program can provide up to €2.5 million in grant funding to cover costs associated with product development, market entry, and scaling operations. Additionally, it offers equity investments of up to €15 million until 2024, with a reduction to €10 million starting in 2025. This flexible financial support allows companies to leverage public funding alongside private investments, enhancing their ability to attract further capital.
Purpose of the EIC Accelerator
The primary objective of the EIC Accelerator is to boost innovation and competitiveness within the European ecosystem, particularly focusing on deep tech solutions that address significant societal challenges. By providing financial support and resources, the EIC Accelerator aims to facilitate the scaling of groundbreaking technologies, ensuring that promising startups can navigate the often challenging landscape of commercialization. The program also fosters collaboration between innovators and private investors, creating a robust network that enhances the overall growth potential of the European startup ecosystem.
Role in Scaling Companies
The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in helping companies scale by providing not only financial resources but also strategic guidance, networking opportunities, and access to industry experts. By aligning with private sector funding, the program encourages investors to engage with innovative startups, thereby reducing perceived risks associated with early-stage investments. This collaborative approach not only enhances the likelihood of success for recipient companies but also catalyzes broader economic growth and technological advancement within Europe.
Summary of EIC Accelerator Winner: Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH
Project Acronym: Cerabyte
Website: cerabyte.com
Country: Germany
Submission Date: March 13, 2024
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH is an innovative company focused on developing cutting-edge data storage solutions. Their project, Cerabyte, introduces a revolutionary ceramic data storage system specifically designed for global IT and cloud service providers. This technology addresses the growing demand for reliable and efficient data storage solutions in an increasingly data-driven world.
Cerabyte Technology Overview
Cerabyte is designed to harness the properties of ceramic materials, offering a significant advancement in data storage technology. Traditional data storage methods, such as hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs), face limitations in terms of durability, speed, and energy efficiency. Cerabyte aims to overcome these challenges by utilizing advanced ceramic materials that provide superior thermal stability and resistance to environmental factors.
The core technology behind Cerabyte involves the encoding of digital information into a ceramic medium, which enables long-term data retention without degradation. This method not only ensures data integrity over extended periods but also enhances the energy efficiency of data centers, which are significant consumers of power. As global demand for cloud services and data storage continues to rise, Cerabyte positions itself as a sustainable and scalable solution for IT service providers.
The project is poised to transform the data storage landscape by offering a more resilient, energy-efficient, and reliable option for managing vast amounts of information. By leveraging the EIC Accelerator funding, Ceramic Data Solutions aims to bring this innovative technology to market, contributing to the evolution of data storage solutions in a rapidly advancing digital economy.
2 The Funding Rounds
Financing Raised and Funding Rounds
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (operating as Cerabyte) has raised significant funding through the EIC Accelerator, one of Europe’s most competitive deep-tech grant and investment programs. In December 2024, Cerabyte was announced as a recipient of the prestigious EIC Accelerator grant funding. While the precise amount allocated to Cerabyte individually is not publicly disclosed, the program awarded a total of €411 million across 68 selected startups in that round, with typical grants offering up to €2.5 million and equity investments from €0.5 million up to more than €15 million per company. The majority of funded companies in this cohort received “blended finance”—a mix of grant and equity financing—covering nearly all recipients.
Timing and Amount
- EIC Accelerator Award: Announced in December 2024 following submission for the March 2024 cut-off.
- Funding Structure:
- Total Round (March 2024): €411 million distributed among 68 winners.
- Typical EIC Grant Per Company: Up to €2.5 million.
- EIC Equity Investment Range: From €0.5 million to at least €15 million per company; almost all recipients received both grant and equity (“full blended finance option”).
- The actual amount awarded specifically to Cerabyte has not been disclosed publicly.
Investor Information
The EIC Fund acts as both a direct investor (providing equity) and an anchor attracting additional private co-investors into its portfolio companies. For this funding round:
- Primary funders include:
- The European Innovation Council (grant component).
- The EIC Fund (equity component).
- Additional undisclosed co-investors may be involved since the EIC Fund often brings other investors alongside its investments.
Beyond public sector financing, Cerabyte also secured strategic private investment from Pure Storage—a notable player in enterprise storage solutions—in a separate seed venture capital round prior or adjacent to their public funding success. Pure Storage founder John “Coz” Colgrove joined Cerabyte’s board as part of that deal; however, terms were not made public.
Company Valuation
No explicit valuation figures for Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH have been publicly released in relation either to their private seed round or their post-EIC Accelerator status. However, given common structures for such deep-tech deals—blended finance typically implies valuations supporting millions-to-tens-of-millions euro-level investments—but any exact figure would be speculative without direct disclosure.
Exit Events
There are no reported exit events such as IPOs or acquisitions involving Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH/Cerabyte since receiving EIC Accelerator funding or prior rounds based on currently available sources.
Summary Table — Funding Overview
| Date | Round/Funding Type | Amount Disclosed | Main Investors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2024 | EIC Accelerator | Not Disclosed | European Innovation Council + EIC Fund | Blended finance: Grant up to €2.5M + Equity (€0.5–15M+) |
| Prior/Adjacent | Seed VC | Not Disclosed | Pure Storage | Strategic partnership; board seat granted |
</em>Total program budget for cohort was €411M split among 68 recipients; individual allocation unpublished but follows standard guidelines for grants/equity under this scheme.
Exit Status
Sources
- Cerabyte Receives Prestigious EIC Accelerator Grant Funding
- Ceramic storage player Cerabyte receives slice of €411M in European funding
- EIC Accelerator March 2024 Results: A Detailed Analysis
- Cerabyte receives EIC Accelerator Grant funding - Digitalisation World
- Cerabyte – Products, Competitors, Financials – CB Insights
3 The Press Releases
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (Cerabyte): Post-EIC Accelerator Funding DevelopmentsEIC Accelerator Grant & Strategic Partnerships
Cerabyte secured European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding in late 2024, part of a €411 million pool shared among 68 deep-tech startups. The grant supports commercialization of its ceramic-based data storage systems, which utilize femtosecond lasers to etch nanoscale holes into glass-backed ceramic media for long-term archival storage. While the exact funding amount remains undisclosed, the EIC typically provides grants up to €2.5 million paired with equity investments ranging from €0.5 to €15 million.
In March 2025, Cerabyte announced a strategic partnership with In-Q-Tel (IQT), the U.S. intelligence community’s nonprofit strategic investor, to advance immutable data storage solutions for government applications. This collaboration focuses on enhancing durability and reducing lifecycle costs for agencies managing multi-decade archival needs.
Technology Advancements & Validation
Cerabyte’s technology employs laser-matrix writing and high-speed microscope reading to store data on ceramic nanolayers with claimed lifespans exceeding 1,000 years. Key features include:
- Energy efficiency: Near-zero power consumption during archival periods.
- Cost reduction: Up to 95% lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional cold storage.
- Scalability: Compatibility with semiconductor manufacturing tools for yottabyte-era demands.
The company reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 in 2023 and validated its demo system through a U.S. National Academies assessment in January 2024. At the April 2025 OCP EMEA Summit, Cerabyte demonstrated extreme media resilience by boiling and baking its ceramic-glass tablets while maintaining full data integrity.
Market Positioning & Intellectual Property
Cerabyte targets hyperscalers, governments, and AI-driven industries facing exponential cold-data growth. Its granted patents cover ceramic carrier designs in key markets representing ~77% of global GDP, including the EU, U.S., China, Japan, and India. The company operates facilities in Germany and Silicon Valley while collaborating with semiconductor manufacturing partners globally.
Sources
- Ceramic Storage Player Cerabyte Receives Slice of €411M Funding
- EIC Accelerator Grant Announcement
- In-Q-Tel Partnership Announcement
- IQT Investment Coverage
- CORDIS Project Overview
- OCP Summit Media Durability Test
4 The Technology Advancements
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (Cerabyte): Advances and Developments
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH, operating as Cerabyte, is a pioneering company in ceramic-based data storage solutions. Based in Germany, Cerabyte has been at the forefront of developing innovative storage technologies that address the challenges of modern data centers, such as high energy consumption and the need for sustainable, long-term data storage.
Current Capabilities
Cerabyte's technology focuses on storing data in ceramic nanolayers, enabling extreme resilience at low cost and virtually unlimited lifetime. This approach uses advanced laser-matrix writing and high-speed microscope reading technologies to create nanoscale holes in ceramic media layered on glass substrates. This method allows for data storage that can last thousands of years without the need for data migration, significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding
Following their successful bid for the EIC Accelerator grant in March 2024, Cerabyte has made significant strides in advancing its technology. The funding has supported the company's plans to accelerate research and development, scale operations, and strengthen its position as a leader in ceramic-based storage technology. This financial boost has enabled Cerabyte to bring its innovative solutions to market more rapidly, meeting the growing demands of the digital economy.
One of the notable advancements is the successful launch of a prototype for its ceramic-based data storage technology. This prototype demonstrates the capability to store information for extremely long periods without degradation, offering a transformative solution for long-term archival data storage.
New Features and Demonstrations
Cerabyte's technology has been highlighted for its potential to eliminate data migration, providing fast-retrieval active archive solutions. This capability is particularly beneficial for industries that require secure and sustainable data storage, such as healthcare and AI. While specific customer demonstrations or pilots have not been detailed in recent publications, Cerabyte's focus on scalable and sustainable data storage positions it well for collaboration with major technology companies and research institutions.
Patents and Scientific Studies
Cerabyte has an extensive patent portfolio covering its Ceramic Nano Memory technology, which is crucial for protecting its innovations across global markets. However, recent publications do not specifically mention new patents filed or scientific studies published since receiving the EIC funding.
Market Impact
Cerabyte's expansion into the U.S. market, particularly with offices in Silicon Valley and Boulder, underscores its commitment to global reach and collaboration. The company's emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency aligns with global efforts to reduce the environmental impact of data storage, making it an attractive partner for industries seeking long-term, eco-friendly solutions.
Sources
- Cerabyte
- Cerabyte Launches Prototype Ceramic-Based Data Storage Tech
- Cerabyte Unveils Transformative Ceramic-Based Technology for Accessible Permanent Data Storage; Expands into the U.S.
- Ceramic storage player Cerabyte receives slice of €411M in European funding
- Cerabyte Receives Prestigious EIC Accelerator Grant Funding
- Cerabyte receives EIC Accelerator Grant funding
5 The Partnerships and Customers
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (Cerabyte) Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Following its EIC Accelerator win in March 2024, Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (trading as Cerabyte) has solidified key partnerships and expanded its market reach through collaborations with government entities, strategic investors, and enterprise clients.Key Partnerships
- Nature: Strategic investment from IQT, the CIA-backed nonprofit venture capital firm.
- Purpose: Enhance storage longevity and reliability for national security applications, addressing classified data retention needs over 25–50 years.
- Impact: Validates Cerabyte’s mission to deliver permanent, immutable storage solutions for AI-driven data ecosystems.
- Nature: Investment by Pure Storage, granting them a board seat.
- Purpose: Collaborate on long-term archival storage solutions to reduce energy consumption and TCO for enterprise customers.
Market Positioning Advancements
- U.S. Expansion: Opened offices in Silicon Valley and Boulder (July 2024), targeting active archive solutions that eliminate data migration while ensuring rapid retrieval speeds of GB/s-class writes/reads.
- Sustainability Leadership: Reduces TCO by 75% and energy consumption by 99% compared to HDDs by leveraging ceramic nanolayers on recyclable glass substrates.
Technology Advancements & Scaling Outcomes
- Production Scalability: Utilizes existing ultrathin glass manufacturing infrastructure to achieve sub-$1/TB media costs by 2030 while maintaining high-speed laser/microscope-based read/write systems. Partnering with display glass manufacturers ensures rapid scaling without supply chain bottlenecks .
- Patent Portfolio: Protects core innovations across markets representing ~80% of global users, enabling licensing opportunities with tech firms seeking permanent storage solutions for AI/ML datasets .
Sources
- Cerabyte Unveils Immutable Data Storage for Government Customers [HPC Wire]
- IQT Partnership Announcement [TechRadar Pro]
- U.S. Expansion Press Release [Business Wire]
Technology Deep Dive: SNIA Conference Insights
Cerabyte – Permanent Data Storage [SNIA Developer Conference]Pure Storage Investment Update
Cerabyte Secures Pure Storage Investment [Blocks & Files]6 The Hiring and Company Growth
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH: Team Growth and Strategic Hiring Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH (operating as Cerabyte) has positioned itself as a pioneer in ceramic-based archival storage, targeting the exponential growth of cold data. While specific headcount figures remain undisclosed, the company’s trajectory indicates strategic team expansion to support its ambitious product roadmap and global scaling efforts.Hiring and Team Growth
- Funding-Driven Expansion: After securing €10 million in seed funding (2022–2023) and later EIC Accelerator support in 2024, Cerabyte accelerated prototype development and market entry. The company expanded into the U.S., establishing offices in Silicon Valley and Boulder.
- Key Positions: Although exact roles are unspecified, leadership emphasizes expertise in materials science, robotics (for automated library systems), and high-speed data engineering to meet its 2025 targets of 10PB/rack systems with 1GB/s speeds.
- Scalability Focus: New hires likely address critical areas such as R&D for nanolayer optimization, partnership management for hyperscaler adoption, and logistics for deploying multi-rack systems globally.
Management Stability
The founding team—including CEO Christian Pflaum (engineering/business development) and CMO Martin Kunze (materials science)—remains intact. Kunze highlighted their collaborative approach to overcoming technical challenges during early-stage prototyping. No major management changes have been reported post-EIC funding.Future Impact of Team Expansion
Recent hiring aligns with Cerabyte’s goal to dominate the archival storage market by offering $1 per petabyte/month costs within two decades. The team’s focus on reducing nano-dot sizes (to boost density) and refining laser/particle-beam writing methods will be pivotal for achieving exabyte-scale capacities post-2030. Additionally, U.S.-based hires aim to strengthen partnerships with cloud providers ahead of their 20-rack system launch in 2025.Sources
Cerabyte Transformative Ceramic-Based Technology
Cerabyte Interview With Co-Founder & CMO Martin Kunze
7 The Media Features and Publications
Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH: Media Coverage and Public Engagement Ceramic Data Solutions Holding GmbH, operating under the brand Cerabyte, has emerged as a pioneer in ceramic-based data storage technology. Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2024, the company has expanded its global footprint and garnered significant media attention. Below is an overview of its public engagements, partnerships, and coverage.Media Features & Publications
- Business Wire (July 2024): Highlighted Cerabyte’s U.S. expansion and its ceramic-on-glass storage solution, emphasizing energy efficiency, scalability (petabyte to exabyte), and elimination of data migration.
- TechRadar Pro (August 2024): Detailed Pure Storage’s strategic investment in Cerabyte to advance sustainable archival storage solutions using ceramic slabs resistant to bit rot.
- SiliconANGLE (July 2024): Covered the prototype launch of Cerabyte’s low-cost archival storage technology, noting its potential to reduce data center TCO.
Podcasts & Interviews
No direct interviews or podcasts featuring Cerabyte’s leadership were identified in available sources. However:Conferences & Events
Key Technological Highlights from Presentations
- Media Longevity: Data retention for over 5,000 years via femtosecond laser-etched QR-like patterns on ceramic-coated glass.
- Sustainability: Robotic libraries operate on a 19" rack footprint, minimizing energy use while enabling air-gapped security.
Strategic Partnerships & Future Outlook
Pure Storage’s investment underscores confidence in Cerabyte’s vision for "yottabyte-era" solutions. The company aims to commercialize immutable storage for AI-driven datasets while reducing reliance on high-energy legacy systems like tape or HDDs.Sources
- Business Wire: Cerabase Unveils Transformative Technology
- TechRadar Pro: Pure Storage Invests in Cerabyate
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