The company uses artificial intelligence-based technology to objectively scan vision in any patient through gaze tracking. (Autor: Gonzalo Alonso de Carlos)
DIVE Medical, founded in 2013 in Aragon (Spain), was born from the need to perform objective visual examinations in children and babies. Led by Victoria Pueyo, a paediatric ophthalmologist, and in collaboration with researchers from the Graphics & Imaging Lab group at the University of Zaragoza, the company developed DIVE, a device based on artificial intelligence that uses eye tracking to objectively assess visual functions from the age of 6 months. It currently operates from Gipuzkoa, attracting collaborations in its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The device has been implemented in Spanish private clinics, distributed by FarmaMix, and used in research such as those of the Complutense University. Internationally, DIVE Medical is looking for distributors in Europe and the United States after its use in projects in countries such as Mexico, China and Vietnam, initially funded by Huawei. This allowed the technology to be validated with a database of more than 6,000 patients.
Among its short-term goals, the company is looking to demonstrate the economic efficiency of its technology in the public health system through a CDTI-funded project. This includes showing how its visual screening can reduce unnecessary referrals and improve early detection of pathologies. In addition, although the device was initially focused on children, it now also offers a version adapted for adults, incorporating specific improvements for this population.
For the future, DIVE Medical intends to expand its scope beyond visual pathologies and explore neurological areas. It collaborates with Cruces University Hospital and BioBizkaia in research that integrates DIVE in the detection of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This underlines its ambition to contribute to both ophthalmology and the diagnosis of neurocognitive problems, consolidating itself as a benchmark in health innovation.
DIVE Medical’s social impact is also reflected in its ability to integrate cutting-edge technology into international projects, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can be used to generate benefits in both research and public health. Its success underlines the importance of public-private partnerships and the support of entities such as the SPRI Group, which promotes internationalisation and technological innovation in the Basque Country.
