Basemark and the EIC Accelerator: Augmented Reality for Cars

Basemark, a Helsinki software company led by founder Tero Sarkkinen, makes Rocksolid AR, a set of tools that lets carmakers design and run their own augmented reality applications for head-up displays and other in-car screens, projecting guidance and alerts onto the road view. The EIC Accelerator granted €2,499,999 towards a total cost of €3,580,302 for the project "Making Driving Safer with Augmented reality", which ran from June 2024 to December 2025, according to CORDIS. In April 2024 Basemark raised €22 million in a Series B of equity, grants and loans led by ETF Partners, with Tesi, Constructor Capital, Business Finland and the European Innovation Council, according to Basemark. It said it had secured its first series production deal with a US carmaker in 2023, without naming it.

The project's report says Basemark expanded the Rocksolid AR SDK, integrated it into Rocksolid AR Studio, formed a testing and validation team and was shortlisted for the 2025 Auggie Awards, according to CORDIS. In June 2026 it signed a memorandum of understanding with Ignite, the software unit of the lighting and electronics group FORVIA HELLA, to integrate Rocksolid into Ignite's automotive AR offer, according to Basemark. No further carmaker production deal has been announced.

Where Basemark Stands Now

In 2026 Basemark turned to defence. In August it showed Rocksolid fusing data from Patria's situational awareness suite, ICEYE satellite imagery and vehicle health data for an armoured vehicle in Finland operated remotely from Tokyo, and in September it joined the Finnish defence and aerospace industry association PIA, according to Basemark. Its revenue reached €7.68 million in 2025, up 7.5%, with an operating loss of €3.21 million and 66 employees, according to Asiakastieto.

The Technology: AR Without a Service Contract

Basemark says its competitors only offer AR development as a service. It sells a studio and software kit so carmakers can build their own applications, which it says run on low-end chips and several displays at once. The EIC project focused on the studio, the SDK and safety validation needed for production cars. The same engine now powers its defence demonstrations.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The project promised a market-ready AR platform and scaled-up sales to carmakers. The tools were released and updated, and a tier-one supplier signed on. The scale-up is less clear: one publicly known carmaker production deal, flat headcount and a new push into a different market.

1. AR Studio and SDKDeliveredReleased and updated.
2. Safety validationTeam formedProject report.
3. New carmaker production dealsUnverifiedNone announced.
4. Tier-one partnerDeliveredIgnite MoU, 2026.

The Money

Basemark's revenue grew from €3.45 million in 2022 to €7.68 million in 2025, but its operating loss has stayed above €3 million a year. How much of the €22 million Series B came from the EIC has not been disclosed.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Basemark's chief executive argues that carmakers want to become software developers themselves. A European supplier of AR tools gives them an alternative to building everything in-house or buying from non-European vendors. Basemark's move into defence shows it is also looking beyond cars.

The Verdict

Basemark and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.