CORTIVIS aims to develop a Cortical Neuroproshesis for the blind with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, specific RTD program "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", QLK6-CT-2001-00279.

CORTIVIS aims to develop prototypes in the field of visual rehabilitation and to demonstrate the feasibility of a cortical neuroprosthesis, interfaced with the visual cortex, as a means through which a limited but useful visual sense may be restored to profoundly blind people. While the full restoration of vision seems to be impossible, the discrimination of shape and location of objects could allow blind subjects to 'navigate' in a familiar environment and to read enlarged text, resulting in a substantial improvement in the standard of living of blind and visually impaired persons.

2001-2015: Animal testing. 2005-2015: Biocompatibility studies. Preclinical tests started in 2014.