2025/10/16 | Media | Artificial Intelligence
EssilorLuxottica acquires RetinAI AG: A landmark first for the University of Bern's innovation ecosystem
The University of Bern's ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research welcomes the announcement by EssilorLuxottica S.A., a global leader in vision care and optical innovation, of its acquisition of RetinAI AG, a spin-out founded at the ARTORG Center. The transaction marks the first major commercial exit of an ARTORG origin start up and the first ever acquisition and exit of a University of Bern medtech spin out to a global industry leader.
Founded in 2017 by ARTORG researchers led by Dr Carlos Ciller, RetinAI developed the RetinAI Discovery® platform, a certified AI based system for ophthalmic image and data management that supports clinics, life science partners, and device manufacturers worldwide. The platform's regulatory grade technology, certified under CE MDR and FDA 510(k), integrates multimodal retinal imaging and advanced machine learning analytics to enable faster, data driven decisions in ophthalmology.
"This milestone demonstrates the strength of Bern's translational MedTech ecosystem and the ability of our research to create tangible value for patients, clinicians and the Canton's economy," said Prof. Raphael Sznitman, Director of the ARTORG Center. "RetinAI's journey from an academic prototype to global adoption by a leading vision care company exemplifies how the ARTORG model transforms scientific discovery into clinical impact and regional value creation, while positioning Bern as a globally competitive hub for medical innovation."
A model for translation and value creation
The RetinAI exit validates the ARTORG translational pipeline model, which combines engineering excellence, clinical collaboration and entrepreneurial partnership. Since its founding, ARTORG has launched more than 16 spin outs, attracting over CHF 100 million in equity investment and creating around 240 high skill jobs in the Canton of Bern. RetinAI represents the culmination of this trajectory, transforming research excellence into measurable impact for both healthcare and the regional economy. This success reflects not only the University of Bern's Strategy 2030 and the Faculty of Medicine's focus on digital health, precision diagnostics and translational research, but also the University's institutional framework that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship through its Innovation Office, which connects researchers, clinicians and industry partners to accelerate the transfer of ideas into applications. It also underscores the Canton of Bern's long term commitment to fostering a dynamic MedTech and life sciences environment that bridges academia, hospitals and enterprise. The RetinAI success story demonstrates that publicly supported innovation, embedded within a strong translational ecosystem, drives sustainable job creation and international competitiveness. In this way, RetinAI embodies the goals of Engagement 2030, strengthening Bern's position as a national and global hub of MedTech excellence.
Collaboration with Inselspital Bern
Close collaboration with clinicians from the Department of Opthalmology at the Inselspital Bern played an important role in validating RetinAI's early technology and ensuring its clinical relevance. The longstanding partnership between the Augenklinik and ARTORG continues to anchor Bern's leadership in ophthalmic innovation and translational research, reflecting the university hospital's active role in advancing technology that benefits patients worldwide.
About the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research
The ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research is the University of Bern's hub for medical-technology innovation. Embedded within the Faculty of Medicine, ARTORG brings together engineers, clinicians and scientists to tackle unmet clinical needs through technology, translational research and product development. With 16 research groups it covers a broad spectrum of domains including surgical robotics, simulation & modeling, computational physiology, medical image analysis and AI, rehabilitation engineering, biomedical instrumentation, minimally invasive systems, wearable & sensor technologies, and health data analytics, ARTORG bridges from basic science to prototype validation and clinical impact.
About the University of Bern
The University of Bern is one of Switzerland's leading all-faculty universities, recognized for excellence in medicine, life sciences and digital technologies. At the forefront of medical innovation, Bern's Faculty of Medicine, together with the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research and the newly founded Department of Digital Medicine, drives the development of data-driven diagnostics, intelligent medical devices and personalized therapeutic technologies. Through targeted translational research initiatives, innovation support and close collaboration with hospitals and industry partners, the University fosters the rapid transfer of discoveries into clinical and commercial applications that improve patient care and strengthen Switzerland's Medtech leadership.
About Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital is one of Switzerland's largest and most research-active university hospitals, providing comprehensive tertiary care and serving as a leading center for clinical innovation and translational medicine. Its Department of Ophthalmology (Augenklinik) is the largest in Switzerland, offering the full spectrum of medical and surgical eye care while conducting internationally recognized research in retinal diseases, ocular imaging and clinical trials. Through close collaboration with the University of Bern's Faculty of Medicine and the ARTORG Center, the Augenklinik has established Bern as a reference site for ophthalmic innovation and precision diagnostics.
