MRI technology is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in modern medicine—but it’s still a luxury for many. The global MRI market sits at $10 billion, with Europe accounting for $2.5 billion and France alone at $500 million. Yet, access remains frustratingly limited. Traditional MRI machines are large, expensive, and require dedicated hospital infrastructure. That puts them out of reach for rural clinics, local practices, and mobile care units—further deepening healthcare inequality and delaying diagnoses that could save lives.
That’s exactly the problem Chipiron, a French deeptech startup, is tackling head-on. The company just raised $17 million in Series A funding to bring its compact, low-cost MRI system to life—one that could radically expand access and make scans as routine as X-rays, no matter where you live.
Compact MRI for the Rest of the World
Founded in 2020 by Evan Kervella and Dimitri Labat, Chipiron is building an ultra-low-field MRI scanner that breaks the mold. It’s not just about shrinking the size. Their vision is to rethink MRI from the ground up—cutting costs, removing installation complexity, and making it easy to deploy in under-resourced settings.
While traditional MRI systems are mostly reserved for big city hospitals, Chipiron wants to see its machines in rural clinics, mobile diagnostic vans, and community health centers, even in developing nations. Their technology is being designed to work for patients often excluded from standard MRI scans—those with pacemakers, children, obese individuals, and people with claustrophobia.
This Series A round—led by Blast, with backing from iXcore, the EIC Fund, France2030, Bpifrance, and the EIC Accelerator—brings Chipiron’s total raised to over $22 million through a mix of private and public funding. The new capital will help finalize product development, build the first clinical prototypes by late 2025, and begin hospital-based trials in 2026.
A Mission Born From Inequality in Healthcare
The idea behind Chipiron was simple but urgent: MRI shouldn’t be a privilege. From early on, the founders focused on making MRI more available and user-friendly—both in design and operation. Their ultimate goal is to double the addressable MRI market by creating systems for facilities that could never afford or house a full-scale MRI.
Chipiron isn’t trying to replace hospital-grade scanners. Instead, they’re creating an entry-level, accessible solution that fills the massive gap in everyday medical settings—especially where early diagnosis is the difference between treatment and tragedy.
What’s Coming Next for Chipiron?
With a working prototype on the horizon and trials planned for 2026, Chipiron is now preparing for the regulatory phase. Within the next few years, they plan to:
- Secure FDA and CE approvals
- Deploy 100 commercial units globally
- Expand into the U.S. market, known for early tech adoption
This roadmap isn’t just ambitious—it’s essential. If successful, Chipiron’s MRI solution could become a standard diagnostic tool across primary care facilities worldwide.
Backers See a Healthtech Breakthrough
Investors are lining up behind Chipiron not just for its market potential, but for its impact on public health.
Anthony Bourbon, founder of Blast.Club, sees it as a rare blend of deeptech and real-world application: “They’re solving a massive public health problem—making early detection of life-threatening diseases possible anywhere. We’re proud to back them.”
Hervé Arditty of iXcore echoed that sentiment, praising the “outstanding team, sound science, and game-changing product.”
The EIC Fund also views the investment as part of its broader mission to support European deeptech breakthroughs in critical sectors, particularly healthcare. With nearly 40 medical tech companies already in its portfolio, Chipiron is now part of an elite group building Europe’s next generation of health innovation.
A New Era in Medical Imaging?
As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising costs and uneven access, Chipiron’s vision feels both timely and urgent. In a few years, getting an MRI at a local clinic or from a mobile care van could be as normal as getting a chest X-ray today. And that could change lives—especially in underserved communities.
By shrinking the machine, Chipiron may be expanding the reach of modern diagnostics more than any other player in the field. If the startup delivers on its promises, it could help rewrite the future of medical imaging—making MRI truly global.
