Kriba and the EIC Accelerator: Baby Meningitis Test Delayed

The standard test for meningitis in babies is a lumbar puncture, which the EIC project calls the invasive gold standard. Neos New Born Solutions, founded in 2015 and now trading as Kriba from the Barcelona Science Park, built Neosonics: a high-frequency ultrasound probe placed on the fontanelle, the soft spot on a baby's skull, with AI that counts white blood cells in the fluid beneath, according to its EIC project, which set out to reduce reliance on lumbar punctures.

In July 2022 the company announced €4.5 million from the EIC Accelerator, a €2.5 million grant and €2 million in equity, plus €1 million from private investors, and said it would enter the market in late 2023, according to the Barcelona Science Park. The EIC project, from December 2022 to August 2025, was to "industrialise, clinically validate, CE mark and market launch" the device. Its final report says meningitis validation was still ongoing, a notified body had been selected, and the first launch would be in peritoneal dialysis. No CE Mark has been announced.

Where Kriba Stands Now

Kriba now presents three applications: infant meningitis, peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis, and uveitis, an eye inflammation. The final EIC report says the market launch would target peritoneal dialysis first, with a US 510(k) route planned for that use and De Novo applications for meningitis and uveitis. Kriba's website describes the EIC grant as running until September 2025 and lists conference appearances, including the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week in November 2025. It announces no CE Mark, sales or new funding.

The Technology: Counting Cells Through the Skull

A study led by ISGlobal and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation enrolled more than 200 babies up to 24 months old in Spain, Mozambique and Morocco between 2020 and 2023, and was published in Pediatric Research in 2025. Its lead author said the device "was able to correctly classify 17 out of 18 meningitis cases and 55 out of 58 controls", according to Good News Network, which reported about 94% sensitivity and 95% specificity.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The project promised to industrialise, clinically validate, CE mark and launch Neosonics for infant meningitis. By its end, proofs of concept in peritonitis and uveitis had given "impressive results", three patent applications had been filed and a quality system was being implemented; meningitis validation was still under way "with mitigation actions implemented". The CE marking and launch did not happen within the project.

1. Clinical evidence, meningitisPublishedValidation still ongoing.
2. New applicationsProofs of conceptPeritonitis, uveitis.
3. CE markingNot achievedNotified body selected.
4. Market launchNot achievedPlanned for late 2023.

The Money

The 2022 package brought the company's total raised to €5.6 million. It has announced no funding since, and its accounts are not freely displayed. The EIC is a shareholder through its €2 million equity investment.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

A device that could spare babies a lumbar puncture has real value, and the published study supports the idea. The EIC funded a launch for 2023; three years later the company is aiming first at a different market, dialysis, and the meningitis device is not available.

The Verdict

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