Rasph

Camino Science and the EIC Accelerator: AI for Phages Unproven

September 29, 2026893 words5 min

Phage therapy treats infections with viruses that attack bacteria, and matching a phage to a strain still depends on time-consuming lab work, according to Camino Science's EIC project. Camino Science, registered in Białystok in eastern Poland in 2020, builds AI models meant to "predict given phage effectiveness against a specific bacteria strain", point to mutations that make a phage more effective and explain the predictions, as the project objective puts it.

The European Innovation Council granted €1,692,596 towards a €2.4 million project from January 2023 to May 2025, with the target of cutting "90 out of 100 experiments". The final report says model accuracy improved "between 2% - 5% compared to previous versions" and that the work produced material for international patent applications. It lists "additional laboratory studies validating AI predictions" as a need still to be met. The company's filed accounts, published by BizRaport, show a net loss of PLN 682,530 in 2025 and negative equity of PLN 1.69 million.

€1.69MEIC grant, 70% of a €2.4M project
90%Of lab experiments the AI was meant to replace
2-5%Accuracy improvement reported
−PLN 1.69MEquity at end of 2025

Company file

Legal entity
Camino Science sp. z o.o., KRS 0000835843, Białystok
Registered
25 March 2020
Share capital
PLN 63,000
Employees
2 to 10, estimated
Product
InSilico Camino, AI prediction of phage-host interactions
EIC project
in silico bio-evolutio, 1 Jan 2023 to 31 May 2025
EIC funding
Grant first

Where Camino Science Stands Now

Camino Science has announced no customer, partner, funding round or product launch that we could find. Its website's security certificate had expired when checked in September 2026. According to North Data, it filed a patent application in May 2024 for a "Computer-Aided Method for Modeling Phage-Host Interactions". The company reported revenue of PLN 2.22 million in 2025; the accounts summary does not say how much of it came from grants.

The Technology: Simulating the Lab

Before the EIC award, Camino Science had already received PLN 844,434 from the EU's Eastern Poland programme for InSilico Camino, a 2021 to 2023 project to build an AI platform simulating virus experiments, according to Poland's EU grants map. That project claimed the platform could cut experiments by 95% to 99%. The EIC project extended the idea to personalised phage therapy and to probiotics for the microbiome.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The EIC was told the platform would remove 90 out of every 100 experiments. What the final report shows is a 2% to 5% gain in model accuracy over the company's earlier versions, "complex insights behind the given predictions" and patent material. The report's own list of next steps begins with lab studies to validate the AI's predictions, the test of whether the core promise holds. CORDIS still lists the project as signed.

  1. Improved prediction modelsDelivered2% to 5% more accurate.
  2. Patent protectionFiledApplication, May 2024.
  3. 90% fewer lab experimentsNot shownLab validation pending.
  4. CustomersNone namedNo announcement found.

The Money

Camino Science made small profits in 2021 and 2022, then lost PLN 1.14 million in 2023, PLN 53,189 in 2024 and PLN 682,530 in 2025. Its equity has been negative at the end of each of the last three years, reaching minus PLN 1.69 million in 2025, with total assets of PLN 2.25 million. Revenue moved between PLN 740,000 and PLN 2.2 million.

What Cannot Be Checked

Questions for the EIC

Whether any lab has confirmed the platform's predictions, how much of Camino Science's revenue is from customers rather than grants, and how it will fund the validation studies its report calls for are not public.

Why Europe Should Care

The EIC backed a very small Polish company working on phage therapy, after a regional EU grant had already funded the same idea. After both grants, the claim that AI can replace most phage lab work is still waiting for its first published lab test.

What the project promised

AI simulation replacing 90 out of 100 lab experiments in phage therapy development.

What the record shows

A 2% to 5% model improvement, a patent application, no lab validation, and negative equity.

The Verdict

A big promise, a small step

Camino Science improved its models and filed a patent. The promise that won it EIC money, replacing nine in ten experiments, has not been tested in a lab, and the company's balance sheet is under water.

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

Start with the EIC Accelerator

Professional proposal writing and expert review for Step 1 and Step 2.

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
EIC AcceleratorBeneficiary Deep Dive#Camino Science#phage therapy#artificial intelligence#bioinformatics#antimicrobial resistance#Poland
Loading