Siloton, a Bristol-based medical imaging startup, has been awarded a €9.98 million ($10.8 million) contract by Innovate UK to expedite the development of its portable eye imaging technology. The funding will enable the company to advance its GiraffeOCT handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for deployment across multiple care settings.
Founded in 2020, Siloton has developed a compact handheld scanner designed to detect retinal diseases through non-invasive imaging. The Innovate UK contract represents a significant milestone for the company, which has previously raised €1.58 million in total funding. The grant will focus on designing and manufacturing both in-clinic and at-home versions of the system, positioning the technology for broader adoption within the National Health Service and beyond.
Expanding Capabilities and Manufacturing
The funding will support several key development areas. Siloton plans to complete clinical trials for its GiraffeOCT devices, advance UK-based manufacturing and assembly operations, and develop a second-generation CheetahOCT device incorporating new photonic chip technology. The company will also build a cloud platform to support its imaging systems, creating technical infrastructure for data management and analysis.
Alasdair Price, CEO of Siloton, emphasized the strategic importance of the award: “Winning this Innovate UK contract allows us to accelerate the development of our systems, explore manufacturing and assembly in the UK, and help a groundbreaking new technology be adopted by the NHS more quickly,” he stated.
The project underscores a broader effort to make advanced diagnostic capabilities more accessible. Traditional OCT imaging systems are typically large, expensive devices housed in specialist clinics, limiting patient access to retinal disease screening. By miniaturizing this technology into a handheld format suitable for home use, Siloton aims to democratize early detection of conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Job Creation and Investment Readiness
Beyond product development, the Innovate UK contract is expected to generate high-skill employment opportunities in the Bristol region. The focus on UK manufacturing aligns with broader government policy supporting domestic medical device production and reducing supply chain dependencies.
The funding also positions Siloton for future investment rounds, as the company builds manufacturing capacity and demonstrates clinical efficacy through completed trials. Securing validation from Innovate UK provides credibility for subsequent funding discussions with venture investors and strategic partners.
European Context
Siloton’s success reflects the growing strength of the UK healthtech ecosystem, particularly in medical imaging and diagnostics. While UK startups have faced post-Brexit uncertainty regarding access to European networks and funding, companies like Siloton continue attracting substantial government backing. The funding announcement also highlights how European medtech startups increasingly compete globally in specialized areas like ophthalmology, where innovation cycles are accelerating and market opportunities span public healthcare systems across multiple regions.