Romanian Deep-Tech Startup .lumen Wins Accessibility Award at CES 2026
EITA European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)-supported Romanian deep-tech company, .lumen, has won the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation Pitch Competition for Accessibility at CES 2026, receiving a $10 000 award.
The award recognises .lumen’s glasses for the blind, an AI-powered wearable that brings self-driving technology into the pedestrian world. Using real-time computer vision, spatial perception and artificial intelligence, the system understands three-dimensional space without relying on internet connectivity or pre-mapped environments. Navigation guidance is delivered through a touch-based interface, enabling safer and more independent mobility for blind and visually impaired users.
Global Recognition on the CES Stage
The CTA Foundation Pitch Competition brings together a selected group of startups exclusively from the accessibility space, showcasing technologies designed to deliver measurable impact for people with disabilities.
In addition to winning the Pitch Competition, .lumen was also named a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree. In 2025, the company won the US Army Pitch prize, where it also secured $10 000 in funding.
In September 2025, .lumen was highlighted at the State of the Union address, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen showcased the startup as an example of how Europe is building a competitive and prosperous Union.
I was born into a family where everyone except me had a disability. Years later, the technology we’re building is recognised here, on the CES stage, as the most innovative in its field. Feels like a full circle.
Cornel Amariei, Founder and CEO of .lumen.
From Assistive Technology to Autonomous Mobility
.lumen is currently launching in Europe and plans to expand internationally. The company, which was founded in 2020, is developing Pedestrian Autonomous Driving AI (PAD AI) – a system that enables safe, real-time navigation for pedestrians – first showcased through the .lumen Glasses for the Blind.
EIT Support Powering Growth and Impact
The EIT has played a central role in .lumen’s development. Through EIT Health, the startup participated in the Headstart and Catapult programmes in 2020 and later received the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award. These initiatives provided early funding, mentoring and visibility, supporting the team in scaling its technology and demonstrating impact.
In 2023, .lumen also benefited from six months of tailored mentoring and training through the Better Mobility Accelerator of EIT Urban Mobility, strengthening its positioning within the European innovation ecosystem. In October 2025, the company secured an €11 million grant to repurpose its technology for humanoid robots performing deliveries, followed by additional investment from EIT Urban Mobility in December.
No one should be left behind in Europe’s urban transition. By supporting technologies like .lumen’s AI glasses, EIT Urban Mobility is working to create cities where all residents can participate fully in urban life.
Jan Hauser, Investment Portfolio Manager at EIT Urban Mobility
Strengthening Europe’s Leadership in Inclusive Deep-tech
This latest award highlights .lumen’s progress in developing inclusive deep-tech solutions. EIT support has helped accelerate this work, as the company continues to address a global challenge – enabling blind and visually impaired people to navigate the world with greater independence – while demonstrating how European innovation can deliver both social and economic impact.
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