1 The EIC Accelerator Project

EIC Accelerator Program Overview

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the European Union that are developing innovative solutions. This program is particularly focused on DeepTech innovations, which encompass advanced technologies and scientific breakthroughs that can significantly impact various industries. The EIC Accelerator aims to facilitate the transition from concept to market-ready products by providing substantial financial support, mentorship, and access to a network of investors and business experts.

Funding Structure of the EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator offers a blended finance model that combines grants and equity investments. The funding structure is designed to cater to the diverse needs of innovative companies:

Purpose and Role in the Ecosystem

The EIC Accelerator serves a crucial role in the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem by facilitating access to funding that is often challenging for early-stage companies to secure from traditional private investors. The program not only provides financial support but also connects businesses with a network of investors, business coaches, and industry experts who can assist in overcoming various challenges associated with scaling operations. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, the EIC Accelerator aims to enhance Europe's competitiveness on a global scale.

COMPUTOMICS GMBH and the TRAIT4.0 Project

Company Overview: COMPUTOMICS GMBH, based in Germany, is a pioneering company at the forefront of agricultural technology. The company specializes in providing data-driven solutions that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for enhancing crop production and resilience.

Project Acronym: TRAIT4.0 – TRansition to agriculture 4.0: Increasing crop resiliency with Artificial Intelligence Technology.

Project Description: The TRAIT4.0 project focuses on transitioning traditional agricultural practices into the realm of Agriculture 4.0 by utilizing AI technologies. The goal is to increase crop resilience against various environmental stressors, such as climate change, pests, and diseases. By integrating advanced data analysis and machine learning techniques, TRAIT4.0 aims to optimize farming practices and improve yields sustainably.

Technological Foundations

The technology behind TRAIT4.0 revolves around sophisticated algorithms and machine learning models that process vast amounts of agricultural data. This includes data on soil health, weather patterns, crop genetics, and historical yield performance. By analyzing this data, the AI can identify patterns and insights that inform farmers about the best practices for planting, irrigation, and pest management.

The project's focus on crop resiliency is particularly significant in the context of global climate change, where traditional farming methods may no longer suffice to ensure stable yields. By employing predictive analytics, TRAIT4.0 can help farmers anticipate challenges and adapt their strategies accordingly.

Conclusion

The EIC Accelerator program represents a dynamic initiative within the European Union aimed at nurturing innovative companies like COMPUTOMICS GMBH. Through its blended financing model, the program provides critical support to startups and SMEs, enabling them to advance groundbreaking technologies. The TRAIT4.0 project exemplifies how AI can transform agriculture, enhancing crop resilience and sustainability in an increasingly uncertain climate landscape. By bridging the gap between innovation and market application, the EIC Accelerator plays a vital role in fostering economic growth and technological advancement across Europe.

2 The Funding Rounds

Computomics GmbH: Funding and Investment Overview Since EIC Accelerator Award

Financing Raised

Since its founding, Computomics GmbH—a German bioinformatics and agritech company—has secured several significant funding rounds, including non-dilutive grants and equity investments. The most notable public financing event after their EIC Accelerator win was the European Innovation Council grant in March 2022 for €2.4 million.

Funding Rounds: Timing, Amounts & Investors

• September 2019: Computomics received a €50,000 grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC).
• August 2021: The company attracted growth equity investment from BASF Venture Capital and Amathaon Capital. While the precise financial amount was not disclosed publicly, both investors acquired minority stakes in Computomics during this round. Existing shareholders included High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg.
• March 2022: Computomics won a €2.4 million grant from the European Innovation Council as part of the prestigious EIC Accelerator program. This funding is designed to support research & development as well as commercial expansion.

Date	Funding Type	Investor(s)	Amount
Sep 2019	Grant	European Innovation Council	€50,000
Aug 2021	VC/Equity	BASF Venture Capital; Amathaon Capital	Not disclosed
Mar 2022	Grant	European Innovation Council (Accelerator)	€2.4 million

Investor Information

Key investors since March 2022 include:

• BASF Venture Capital
• Amathaon Capital
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (seed investor)
• MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg

The involvement of prominent strategic investors like BASF Venture Capital signals industry confidence in Computomics' AI-driven plant breeding technology for climate-adaptive crops.

Company Valuations

There are no publicly available figures regarding explicit company valuations for any of these rounds or subsequent periods based on current sources. Most recent investments were characterized by undisclosed terms.

Exit Events

As of April 30, 2025:

• There have been no reported exit events involving Computomics GmbH.
• No evidence exists regarding IPO filings or acquisitions/buyouts concerning the company.

Summary

Since its successful application to the EIC Accelerator on March 23, 2022:

• Computomics raised at least one major non-dilutive grant (€2.4 million), building on prior venture capital investment rounds with undisclosed amounts.
• Its investor base expanded to include sector-focused VCs such as BASF Venture Capital and Amathaon Capital alongside existing seed backers.
• No valuation data or exit events have been made public following these financings.

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Sources: - Computomics company information, funding & investors – Dealroom.co

• BASF Venture Capital and Amathaon invest – HTGF
• Computomics company information – Portugal Dealroom
• Computomics company information – Startup Map Cologne
• Computomics portfolio profile – BASF

3 The Press Releases

Computomics GmbH: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Developments Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Computomics has expanded its partnerships and advanced its AI-driven bioinformatics platforms, focusing on sustainable agriculture and predictive breeding. Below are key developments from press releases and updates directly tied to the company’s activities post-funding:

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Strategic Partnerships

• Starke Ayres Collaboration (November 2024): The partnership with Africa’s leading vegetable seed company aims to integrate machine learning into crop breeding programs. Computomics’ Climate-Smart Breeding technology will analyze genomic and environmental data to accelerate the development of climate-resilient vegetable varieties.
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success (April 2024): Collaborating with Australia’s University of Queensland, Computomics is refining machine learning models to predict complex plant traits like flowering patterns and branching behavior. The project emphasizes Genotype-by-Environment-by-Management (GxExM) interactions for optimized breeding strategies.

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Technology Advancements

• Climate-Smart Breeding Platform: Leveraging AI, the platform simulates millions of potential crop crosses using genomic data, climate projections, soil microbiomes, and agricultural practices. This enables breeders to select high-performance varieties tailored to future climatic conditions while reducing land/water use.
• INNO-TOM Project: Focused on tomato breeding using pangenome analysis, this initiative targets disease-resistant and nutrient-enhanced varieties by mapping genetic diversity across wild and cultivated tomato species.

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Team Recognition & Outreach

Leadership in AgTech Innovation: Dr. Sebastian J. Schultheiss (Managing Director) emphasized the role of AI in replacing less efficient methods like genetic modification during public engagements. Rupashree Dass was acknowledged as one of Europe’s most influential women in the seed sector for her contributions to genomics-driven breeding solutions.

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Key Sources Used:

Starke Ayres Partnership | ARC Centre Collaboration | BASF Investment Announcement | INNO-Tom Project | Donau Soja Profile

4 The Technology Advancements

Computomics GmbH: Post-EIC Accelerator Advancements and Market Progress

Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Computomics GmbH has accelerated its AI-driven agricultural solutions, focusing on genomic analysis and predictive breeding tools. Below are key advancements and market activities:

Technological Advancements

• Pantograph Pangenome Browser: Launched in 2023, this interactive visualization tool enables breeders to explore genetic diversity across entire genomes, down to single-nucleotide resolution. It integrates phenotypic data for trait association studies and was named a SeedWorld Top Innovative Product of 2023.
• ⨉SeedScore® Enhancements: Their proprietary machine learning platform now integrates genomic, environmental, and climate data for performance prediction in crops. It is central to projects like TRAIT4.0 (Horizon Europe), aiming to optimize resource efficiency and climate resilience.
• NLRseek™ Collaboration: Partnered with 2Blades Foundation (November 2023) to apply ⨉SeedScore® for predicting disease-resistant genes across crops using AI-driven in silico analysis.

Market Demonstrations

• Customer Implementations: Clients report accelerated breeding cycles—e.g., a coffee genome annotation completed in six weeks—and early indications of a >50% increase in trait improvement rates. BASF Venture Capital-backed since 2021, Computomics supports agricultural biotech firms globally.
• TRAIT4.0 Project: Aims to leverage machine learning for climate-smart crop breeding under the Horizon Europe program.

Intellectual Property & Research Outputs

While no new patents or whitepapers are explicitly mentioned post-March 2022:

• Focus remains on proprietary technologies like Pantograph and ⨉SeedScore®, which are positioned as industry-first tools without direct competitors cited.
• Collaborations with academic institutions (e.g., the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success) suggest ongoing research into foundational genomic language models.

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Sources

• Pantograph Named A SeedWorld Top Innovative Product of 2023
• Harnessing Crop Breeding Innovations for a Sustainable Agricultural Future

年 2Blades and Computomics Launch Pilot Project using Artificial Intelligence年 年 Computomics Client Testimonials年 年 BASF Venture Capital Portfolio - Computomics年 年 Computomics News & Media Updates

5 The Partnerships and Customers

Computomics GmbH's Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding

Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Computomics GmbH has expanded its collaborations with agricultural biotech firms, research institutions, and seed companies to advance AI-driven crop breeding solutions. Below are key partnerships and their strategic implications:

Key Partnerships and Customers

• 2Blades: Launched a November 2023 pilot integrating Computomics' ⨉SeedScore® machine learning with 2Blades' NLRseek™ resistance gene discovery platform to enhance pathogen-resistant trait identification across crops.
• Starke Ayres: Announced a November 2024 collaboration to apply predictive analytics for improving vegetable breeding outcomes, focusing on Genotype-by-Environment-by-Management (GxExM) modeling for climate-resilient crops.
• Beck’s Hybrids: Extended a long-term partnership (June 2021 onward) using Computomics' AI to optimize hybrid crop predictions, resulting in higher-yielding, region-specific corn varieties.
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success: Partnered in April 2024 to develop machine learning methods for complex trait predictions (e.g., branching/flowering) in collaboration with The University of Queensland.

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Nature of Relationships and Strategic Goals

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Impact on Market Position and Technology Advancements

• Sector Leadership: These relationships reinforce Computomics' niche as an enabler of precision agriculture through machine learning, particularly in bridging genomics with phenotypic outcomes.
• R&D Acceleration: Access to diverse datasets from partners enhances model accuracy for traits like yield stability under environmental stress.
• Global Reach: Collaborations span North America (Beck’s), Africa (Starke Ayres), and Oceania (ARC Centre), broadening market penetration beyond Europe.

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Sources Cited: Full URLs

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

Computomics GmbH: Growth and Development Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Company Overview

Computomics GmbH, based in Tübingen, Germany, is a biotechnology company specializing in bioinformatics and machine learning for plant breeding and metagenomics analyses. Founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute and the University of Tübingen, the company has established itself as a leader in providing advanced data analysis services for agricultural biotech and microbiome researchers.

Current Headcount and Team Size

As of the latest available data, Computomics has approximately 32 employees. The company has not disclosed any significant changes in headcount since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022.

Hiring and Team Growth

Computomics is actively involved in hiring, with positions such as Breeding Machine Learning Analysts being posted to support their plant breeding projects. This indicates ongoing growth and expansion of their team.

Recent Hires and Positions

Recent job postings include roles for Breeding Machine Learning Analysts, which highlight the company's focus on integrating machine learning into plant breeding processes. These positions are crucial for developing predictive analytics capabilities that enhance crop resilience and quality.

Impact on Company Growth

New team members, particularly those with expertise in machine learning and bioinformatics, enable Computomics to strengthen its capacity for rapid genomic data analysis. This expertise is pivotal for scaling and growing the company by providing cutting-edge solutions to agricultural biotech clients. It helps in driving sustainable agricultural development through advanced breeding strategies and improved crop traits.

Major Changes in Management

There are no reported major changes in the management or founding team of Computomics GmbH since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding. Dr. Sebastian J. Schultheiss remains the Managing Director, and other key positions continue to be filled by experienced professionals in bioinformatics and machine learning.

Future Prospects and Scaling

With the EIC Accelerator funding, Computomics is well-positioned to expand its operations and enhance its technological offerings. The company's commitment to using AI for genomic analysis supports its mission to accelerate sustainable agriculture. By integrating more talent into their team, Computomics aims to further its impact on global agricultural innovation.

Sources

• About Computomics
• Computomics - AI Technology for Growth
• Computomics Information - RocketReach
• Computomics GmbH | BioRegio STERN
• Breeding Machine Learning Analyst (d/f/m) for Plant Performance
• Computomics - Wikipedia

7 The Media Features and Publications

Overview of Computomics GmbH

Computomics GmbH, a German company specializing in bioinformatics and machine learning, has been actively involved in various media features, publications, and events since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022.

Media Features and Publications

• News and Media: Computomics regularly publishes news and media updates on its website, focusing on bioinformatics and machine learning advancements in agriculture and related fields.
• Publications: The company has been mentioned in publications related to its collaborations, such as with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where they are working together to develop new rice varieties using bioinformatics tools.
• Content: Publications highlight Computomics' use of AI to analyze genomic data, enabling rapid understanding of genomics and supporting advanced agricultural solutions.

Podcasts and Interviews

• Computomics Podcast: The company hosts a podcast series discussing topics like plant breeding, gene editing, and trends in consumer foods. Recent episodes have featured guests such as Professor Mark Cooper and Gabino Sanchez.
• Interviews: Team members have participated in interviews and presentations, showcasing their expertise in bioinformatics and machine learning for agricultural applications.

Conferences and Fair Visits

• Presentations: Computomics has presented at conferences such as the MarketsandMarkets Next Gen Microbiome and Probiotics Virtual Conference, where Dr. Oliver Deusch discussed interactive and reproducible metagenomics data analysis.
• Event Involvement: The company participates in events focusing on metagenomics, plant breeding, and agricultural innovations, often showcasing its advanced data analytics and AI solutions.

Conclusion

Since winning the EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Computomics GmbH has continued to expand its presence in the field of bioinformatics and agricultural innovation. The company's involvement in media, publications, podcasts, and conferences reflects its commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices through cutting-edge technology.

Sources

• News & Media - Computomics
• Podcast - Computomics
• Predictive Plant Breeding with xSeedScore
• Computomics | self-introduction - Donau Soja
• IRRI collaborates with Computomics to develop new and better rice varieties
• Computomics Podcast: Behind the Scenes
• Interactive and Reproducible Metagenomics Data Analysis with MEGAN6 UE and MORPHEUS
• Discussions On Innovations To Drive Advanced Agriculture Solutions
• Podcast S6E1: Plant Breeding's Moonshot - Computomics