1 The EIC Accelerator Project
EIC Accelerator Program Overview
The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), aims to support innovative startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the European Union. This initiative is primarily focused on deep-tech sectors, which include advanced technologies such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. The EIC Accelerator provides funding through a blend of grants and equity investments, designed to help companies scale their operations and bring groundbreaking innovations to market.
Funding Structure
The EIC Accelerator offers a unique blended finance model, combining non-dilutive grants and equity investments. The grant component can reach up to €2.5 million, aimed at supporting the development of innovative products and services. This grant funding is typically allocated towards research and development, product validation, and other preparatory activities essential for market entry.
In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator provides equity financing, which has been structured to evolve over time. Until 2024, companies can receive equity investments of up to €15 million, which is critical for scaling operations, expanding market reach, and attracting further private investment. From 2025 onwards, this equity ceiling will be reduced to €10 million. This flexible funding approach allows companies to choose the mix of grants and equity that best suits their growth strategies.
Purpose and Role in the Ecosystem
The EIC Accelerator serves a dual purpose in the European deep-tech ecosystem. Firstly, it acts as a catalyst for innovation by providing financial resources that enable startups to transform their ideas into viable products. Secondly, it plays a crucial role in bridging the funding gap between early-stage development and commercial success. By offering substantial financial backing, the EIC Accelerator helps startups attract additional investment from private sector partners, thereby enhancing their growth potential and sustainability.
The program also fosters collaboration among various stakeholders, including investors, researchers, and industry leaders. This collaborative environment encourages knowledge sharing and accelerates the development of cutting-edge technologies, thereby promoting the overall competitiveness of the European economy.
Case Study: SMART IMMUNE and Smart ProTcell
SMART IMMUNE, a French biotech company, has emerged as a notable winner of the EIC Accelerator program. The company focuses on developing advanced immunotherapies, specifically through its project titled Smart ProTcell. This project represents a pioneering approach in the field of allogeneic thymus-empowered T cell therapy, which aims to achieve fast and durable reconstitution of the immune system.
Project Overview: Smart ProTcell
The Smart ProTcell project leverages an innovative platform designed to enhance T cell therapy. T cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune response. Traditional T cell therapies often face challenges such as limited availability and variability in patient responses. The Smart ProTcell platform addresses these challenges by using an allogeneic approach, which involves T cells derived from healthy donors rather than the patients themselves.
This platform is particularly significant for patients requiring rapid immune reconstitution, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or those with compromised immune systems due to other medical conditions. By employing thymus-derived T cells, the Smart ProTcell platform aims to provide a more reliable and effective therapy for reestablishing immune defenses.
Technology Basics and Background
The underlying technology of Smart ProTcell is based on the principles of adaptive immunity. The thymus gland, where T cells mature, plays a crucial role in the development of a diverse T cell repertoire capable of recognizing and responding to a wide range of pathogens and abnormal cells.
SMART IMMUNE's approach harnesses this biological process by creating a T cell product that is not only robust but also adaptable to various patient needs. The innovative aspect of the Smart ProTcell platform lies in its ability to generate an allogeneic T cell product that can be administered to multiple patients, thus overcoming the limitations of autologous T cell therapies that are patient-specific and may take considerable time to prepare.
By utilizing advanced cell engineering techniques, SMART IMMUNE aims to optimize the functionality and persistence of T cells in the human body, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of its product. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for patients with various forms of cancer and immune deficiencies.
Conclusion
The EIC Accelerator program plays a vital role in fostering innovation within the European deep-tech ecosystem. By providing a combination of grants and equity investments, it empowers startups like SMART IMMUNE to develop groundbreaking solutions that address pressing medical challenges. The Smart ProTcell project exemplifies the transformative potential of advanced T cell therapies, showcasing how innovative approaches can significantly improve patient outcomes in the field of immunotherapy.
2 The Funding Rounds
Smart Immune: Financing and Funding Overview Since EIC Accelerator Award
Financing Raised
Smart Immune, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in France, has raised a total of approximately $29.18 million across seven funding rounds as of April 2023. The financing combines grants, equity investments, and contributions from both European institutional sources and international foundations.
Funding Rounds: Timing and Amounts
- January 2023: Awarded €2.5 million grant by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator.
- January 2023: Secured an equity investment commitment of up to €15 million from the EIC Fund under the same EIC Accelerator program.
- March 2023: Recognized receipt (or affirmation) of the above EIC-related funds.
- April 17, 2023: Received $5 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—a significant endorsement given its rarity for early-stage biotech firms.
The funding timeline demonstrates closely sequenced rounds in early 2023 with major milestones involving public innovation funding (EIC) followed shortly by private philanthropic capital (Gates Foundation).
Investor Information
The key investors since January 11, 2023 are:
- European Innovation Council Fund – Provided both a €2.5M grant and committed up to €15M in equity through its accelerator mechanism.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Invested $5M in April 2023 to support clinical development efforts for Smart Immune’s ProTcell platform.
Investor count is listed as five entities on some databases but specific details beyond these two major contributors have not been publicly disclosed in this period.
Company Valuation
Estimates place Smart Immune’s enterprise value between $13 million and $20 million as per market intelligence platforms around this timeframe; however, concrete valuation figures tied directly to specific funding events are not published or confirmed publicly. This range should be considered indicative rather than definitive.
Exit Events (IPO/Buyouts/Acquisitions)
There is no public record or announcement of any exit event such as IPO, buyout, or acquisition involving Smart Immune since their receipt of EIC Accelerator funding. The company remains privately held with ongoing fundraising activities focused on scaling clinical trials and advancing product development pipelines.
Summary Table: Key Funding Events Since January 11th, 2023
| Date | Round/Event | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-Mar 2023 | Grant | €2.5M | European Innovation Council |
| Jan-Mar 2023 | Equity Commitment | Up to €15M | EIC Fund |
| Apr 17, 2023 | Unattributed - II | $5M | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
No exit events have occurred within this period.
Additional Notes
Smart Immune’s ability to attract both competitive EU innovation funds (as one of only a handful receiving both grant + equity commitments) alongside highly selective philanthropic capital reflects strong validation for its technology platform among institutional funders. There are signs that further large-scale fundraising may be pursued linked with future growth milestones but nothing has been finalized or disclosed regarding new valuations or exits post-April 2023.
- Smart Immune company information at New York INvest
- CB Insights profile on Smart Immune
- European Commission newsroom — Smart Immune receives grant/equity commitment
- French Healthcare article — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation investment
- Dealroom profile — Enterprise value estimate for Smart Immune
3 The Press Releases
Smart Immune: Recent Developments After EIC Accelerator Funding
Smart Immune, a French company, received significant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) in January 2023. The company was awarded a grant of €2.5 million and an equity investment commitment of €15 million through the EIC Accelerator program. This funding is crucial for accelerating the development of Smart Immune's innovative technology, specifically its ProTcell platform, which is designed to treat life-threatening cancers and infections.
Technology Advancements
Smart Immune's ProTcell technology involves the use of allogeneic thymus-empowered T cells, which represent a first-in-class approach to immunotherapy. This technology aims to enhance the body's immune response to fight severe diseases, offering a promising solution in the field of oncology and infectious diseases.
Partnerships and Funding
The EIC funding not only provides financial support but also signifies the recognition of Smart Immune's innovative potential by a prestigious European body. The combination of grant and equity investment allows the company to both develop its technology further and scale its operations.
Team Updates
While specific team updates following the funding are not detailed in the available information, the successful acquisition of significant funding often indicates a growing team and expanded operations to support the development and commercialization of innovative technologies.
Press Releases and Social Media Updates
Press releases and updates regarding Smart Immune can be found on platforms like Globenewswire.com, which announced the company's EIC funding. However, specific updates on Smart Immune's website or social media channels have not been detailed in the provided sources.
In summary, Smart Immune's receipt of EIC funding marks a significant milestone in the company's journey to bring groundbreaking immunotherapy solutions to the market. The financial support will likely accelerate research and development activities, positioning the company for future growth and impact in the healthcare sector.
Sources
- Smart Immune receives €2.5m grant and €15m equity investment
- EIC Accelerator winners and statistics January 2023
- EIC Media Review - 14/04/2023
- Smart Immune receives a grant of 2.5 million euros
4 The Technology Advancements
Smart Immune's Post-EIC Accelerator Progress and CapabilitiesSince securing €17.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator in March 2023, Smart Immune has advanced its ProTcell platform and SMART101 therapy through clinical, manufacturing, and strategic partnerships. Here are the key developments:
Current Capabilities
Smart Immune operates as a clinical-stage biotech company specializing in thymus-empowered T-cell progenitor therapies. Its ProTcell platform aims to rapidly regenerate a functional immune system post-transplant using donor-derived T-cell progenitors that mature in the patient’s thymus. The company maintains production facilities at Paris’ MEARY Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Necker Children Hospital, complemented by its December 2024 partnership with CELLforCURE by SEQENS to industrialize SMART101 manufacturing.Technological Advancements
- Manufacturing Process Evolution: The collaboration with CELLforCURE introduced semi-automated steps, including mini-bioreactor-based production and scaled-up cell selection processes, bridging clinical methods to future automated workflows.
- Clinical Pipeline Expansion: Beyond ongoing Phase I/II trials for acute leukemia and primary immunodeficiencies (ReSET trials), Smart Immune initiated proof-of-concept studies for solid tumors using SMART101.
Market Demonstrations & Clinical Trials
- ReSET-02 Clinical Study: Presented at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, this study demonstrated SMART101’s potential to accelerate immune reconstitution post-haploidentical stem cell transplantation using cyclophosphamide prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
- Patient Inclusion Scaling: Clinical trial recruitment is expanding significantly in 2025 across EU/U.S. sites following enhanced manufacturing capacity.
Intellectual Property & Publications
While no new patents or peer-reviewed studies were explicitly disclosed post-EIC funding:- The ReSET trial data presented at ASH 2023 constitutes primary clinical validation of their platform.
- Ongoing collaborations suggest continued innovation in CAR-T applications and gene-modified T-cell progenitors targeting cancers like HIV-resistant T cells.
Sources Used:
- Smart Immune - Press Releases [Multiple citations]
- ProTcell Therapy & Future of Allogeneic Immunotherapy [Interview with CSO Olivier Negre]
5 The Partnerships and Customers
Smart Immune SAS, a French clinical-stage biotechnology company, received significant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator in March 2023. This funding included a €2.5 million grant and an equity investment commitment of up to €15 million to support the development of its ProTcell platform, a thymus-empowered T-cell therapy designed to rapidly re-arm the immune system. This technology is particularly focused on treating life-threatening cancers and infections.Partnerships and Collaborations
Smart Immune has established partnerships with several key institutions and companies. Notably, it collaborates with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the Greater Paris University Hospitals (AP-HP). In December 2024, Smart Immune announced a strategic partnership with CELLforCURE by SEQENS, a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in Advanced Therapy Medical Products (ATMPs). This partnership aims to enhance the production capabilities of SMART101, a therapy under development for primary immune deficiencies and hematological malignancies.
New Relationships and Partnerships
As part of its growth strategy, Smart Immune has also received a $5 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in April 2023. This investment will further accelerate the development of its ProTcell platform to treat cancer and infectious diseases, highlighting the company's expanding network of supporters.
Nature of New Relationships and Purpose
These partnerships are crucial for Smart Immune's mission to improve patient outcomes by developing innovative cell therapies. The collaboration with CELLforCURE will significantly enhance the company's manufacturing capabilities, supporting the scale-up of clinical trials and future commercialization needs. The investment from the Gates Foundation underscores the potential of Smart Immune's technology beyond oncology, particularly in addressing global health challenges like HIV.
Positioning in the Market
Smart Immune's partnerships and funding will position it as a leader in the biotechnology sector, particularly in the development of allogeneic T-cell therapies. The company's focus on rapid immune system re-arming offers a unique approach to treating high-risk blood cancers and primary immunodeficiencies, positioning it for significant market growth and recognition.
Technology Advancements and Scaling
The partnerships and investments are expected to drive technology advancements by supporting the scale-up of manufacturing processes and enabling the development of new T-cell therapy applications. The collaboration with CELLforCURE will facilitate the transition from clinical to commercial-scale production, while the investment from the Gates Foundation will accelerate research into broader applications of the ProTcell platform.
Sources
- Smart Immune receives €2.5m grant and €15m equity investment ...
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6 The Hiring and Company Growth
Smart Immune, a French clinical-stage biotechnology company and EIC Accelerator winner, has focused on advancing its ProTcell platform since securing funding in January 2023. While specific headcount figures are not publicly disclosed, the company’s growth trajectory is evident through strategic partnerships and clinical trial progress.Team Expansion and Hiring Activities
Smart Immune has not explicitly detailed recent hiring initiatives but emphasizes collaborations with institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering and Greater Paris University Hospitals (AP-HP" class="inline-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smart Immune receives €2.5m grant and €15m equity investment .... The December 2024 partnership with CELLforCURE by SEQENS to industrialize SMART101 production indicates operational scaling, which likely involves team expansion in manufacturing, quality control, or regulatory affairs roles.Leadership Changes
In February 2024, Smart Immune appointed new members to its Board of Directors, reflecting governance strengthening to support clinical development. Co-founders Marina Cavazzana, Isabelle André, and Karine Rossignol remain active, with no reported departures from the founding team.Growth Drivers
The Phase I/II ReSET-02 trial for acute leukemia and primary immunodeficiencies is central to their pipeline. The CELLforCURE collaboration aims to boost production capacity ahead of anticipated patient enrollment increases in 2025, suggesting parallel growth in R&D and manufacturing teams. Future plans include exploring combination therapies for solid tumors, which may drive demand for specialized oncology or immunotherapy researchers.
Sources
7 The Media Features and Publications
Smart Immune's Media Presence and Activities Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Smart Immune, a French clinical-stage biotech company, has maintained an active presence in scientific conferences and industry communications since securing EIC Accelerator funding. Below is a detailed overview of their engagements:
Media Features & Publications
While specific mainstream media articles are not detailed in available sources, the company has been featured in biotech-focused platforms:- BioSpace covered Smart Immune’s preclinical data presentations at ASGCT 2022 and its pioneering clinical study at ASH 2023.
- GlobeNewswire highlighted their ESGCT 2023 Congress activities, including oral presentations on CAR-T cell advancements.
Conference Presentations & Participation
Smart Immune actively presents data at leading scientific conferences:- ESGCT Annual Congress (October 2023): CSO Olivier Negre presented preclinical data on CAR ProTcell technology for off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-T cells. SAB member Chiara Bonini discussed TCR genome editing. CEO Karine Rossignol participated in an EIC-led discussion panel on cell and gene therapy.
- ASH Annual Meeting (December 2023): A poster detailed the ReSET-02 trial for SMART101 in leukemia patients undergoing haploidentical stem cell transplantation.
Earlier engagements include:
- ASGCT Annual Meeting (May 2022): Presented preclinical data demonstrating T-cell progenitor scalability and NK-cell production potential.
- Joined the EIC Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support Programme.
- Highlighted as one of France’s top biotechs (Health20) by the French government.
Ecosystem Involvement & Collaborations
As an EIC Accelerator laureate, Smart Immune engages with EU innovation programs:Podcasts or Interviews
No publicly listed podcasts or interviews were identified in available sources. The company directs inquiries to its team via email for direct engagement.Sources Used:
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