Welsh firm Afon Technology is developing a wearable way to manage diabetes after receiving funding from Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship £80bn research and innovation programme.

Afon is working on a world-first wearable non-invasive blood glucose sensor, which measures levels in real time, eliminating the need for frequent and painful finger pricking.

The Caldicot-based business received more than £2mn in funding to fast track the development. Called Glucowear (afontechnology.com/glucowear), the sensor is worn on the wrist and uses low-power microwave signals to monitor glucose levels.

Afon is one of more than 20 businesses in Wales to have benefited from the Horizon Europe scheme after the Welsh government lobbied for continued involvement post Brexit.

“From our small office and laboratory in Wales, our skilled team is pursuing the holy grail of glucose monitoring, a breakthrough with the potential to change the world,” said Sabih Chaudhry, CEO of Afon Technology (afontechnology.com). “The Horizon funding scheme has been instrumental in accelerating the development of our ground-breaking technology. We were thrilled to receive €2.4m from the European Innovation Council, allowing us to drive our innovation towards commercialisation and, ultimately, improve the lives of those living with diabetes.”

The Horizon Europe 2025 funding programme (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en) is available online and the Welsh government is encouraging Wales-based researchers and innovators to develop submissions for the programme, which is being run by the European Commission until 2027.

Grant support is available to businesses to stimulate participation in Horizon Europe via Agile Cymru.

“Horizon Europe funding is pivotal for researchers, innovators and businesses in pushing the boundaries of science and tackling critical challenges such as climate change, medical treatment and industrial competitiveness in new technologies,” said the government cabinet secretary Rebecca Evans. “I urge organisations in Wales to take advantage of the UK’s Associate Country status under the programme in 2025 so that we build on our reputation as a magnet for international collaboration, investment and excellence.”