COFIDES has granted a €1.2 million loan from the Social Impact Fund (FIS) to support the growth of Irisbond, a company specializing in the development of eye-tracking-based assistive communication technologies for people with severe neuromotor diseases.
The financing will be used to supply eye-tracking devices that will facilitate communication for patients within the public healthcare system of the Community of Madrid, under a contract with the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS).
TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND INDEPENDENCE
Founded in 2013, Irisbond designs and markets technological solutions that enable people with severe communication difficulties—such as patients with ALS, cerebral palsy, and other neurological disorders—to interact and communicate through eye gaze.
With a team of 34 professionals, the company serves more than 1,100 users across Spain and collaborates with over 100 hospitals in 15 autonomous communities, providing support, training, and resources to healthcare professionals, families, and care centers.
The objective of this project is to reduce communication barriers, increase personal autonomy, and improve the social inclusion of people with disabilities through the use of accessible and innovative technology, while expanding the number of users. With the addition of new devices financed by regional governments, the company aims to exceed 2,000 active users by the end of 2027.
The signing ceremony for the transaction, attended by COFIDES Chairwoman and CEO Ángela Pérez and Irisbond Co-founder and CEO Eduardo Jáuregui, took place at the Ministry of Inclusion in the presence of Elena Rodríguez, Secretary General for Inclusion.
“This is the best example of technology serving people, as these devices enable children to attend school and adults to communicate and even work. Furthermore, they guarantee every person's right to express themselves and have their own voice,” said Elena Rodríguez, Secretary General for Inclusion. “This transaction also reaffirms the FIS’s commitment to people with disabilities, following its support for UNEI and Fundación Valentia.”
Ángela Pérez, Chairwoman and CEO of COFIDES, stated that “the development of technological solutions such as those created by Irisbond helps improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and advances the goal of building a more inclusive society.” She also emphasized that “through the Social Impact Fund, COFIDES supports projects that combine innovation, sustainability, and social impact, promoting equitable access to essential services.”
“As leaders in the sector, we are proud to provide this technology and, above all, our comprehensive support services to patients of the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS),” said Eduardo Jáuregui, Founder of IRISBOND. “We will work closely with the Madrid Health Service, healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers to continue promoting the right to communication for everyone. What we do generates social impact on many levels, and we are proud of that,” he added.
ABOUT IRISBOND
Irisbond is a technology company based in San Sebastián specializing in artificial intelligence-powered eye-tracking solutions that facilitate communication and interaction with devices. Founded in 2013, the company develops Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies that enable people with motor or speech impairments to communicate through eye gaze, helping improve their independence and quality of life.
ABOUT THE SOCIAL IMPACT FUND (FIS)
The Social Impact Fund (FIS) was established by the Spanish Government through the addendum to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) and is financed through the NextGenerationEU instrument. Attached to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, it is a public financial instrument designed to strengthen Spain’s impact ecosystem by supporting investment projects undertaken by companies and other entities that generate a positive and measurable social and/or environmental impact.
The fund is endowed with €400 million and provides financial support to projects that are financially sustainable and contribute to addressing underserved social and environmental challenges, while also promoting the mobilization of additional private-sector resources.
ABOUT COFIDES
COFIDES is a state-owned corporation that manages government financial funds, as well as its own resources and those of third-party institutions, with several objectives: promoting the internationalization of the Spanish economy, attracting foreign investment to strategic sectors in Spain, fostering the impact economy in Spain, and contributing to the development of the countries in which it invests. In addition to the Spanish State, which holds a majority stake, its shareholders include Banco Santander, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Banco Sabadell, and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America.
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