Materia Nova

What Materia Nova does

Materia Nova is a Belgian non-profit research and innovation centre (ASBL) headquartered in Mons, Belgium, with a secondary office in Esslingen, Germany. It operates as a technology accelerator and R&D platform for industrial clients, supporting projects in advanced materials, surface treatments, and sustainable materials. The organization combines wet and dry deposition capabilities (sol-gel, electroplating, anodizing, PVD, PECVD, ALD, atmospheric plasma spraying, ion implantation) with biosensor development, additive manufacturing, plasma-based gas processing, and life-cycle assessment services. Core proprietary technology assets include a granted patent on Hybrid Methane Plasmalysis (turquoise hydrogen + solid carbon, target <€3/kg H2) and a pending patent on electrocatalytic hydrogen production from nitrogen-rich wastewater using quaternary Ni-alloy coatings. Materia Nova's portfolio spans (bio)sensors and the e-Nose multi-transduction platform developed over more than 20 years with UMONS, intelligent/active coatings, mechanochemistry platforms, gas treatment plasma reactors, 3D printing, and surface treatment equipment for tube interiors.

Its business model is built around collaborative, project-based R&D services delivered to industrial clients in vertical sectors including luxury brands, environment and sustainability, energy and hydrogen, healthcare and medical, mechanics and metallurgy, and agriculture. Revenue streams comprise fee-based R&D and innovation services, subsidy-supported R&D projects drawn from regional and EU programs (FEDER, Interreg France-Wallonia-Flanders, Walloon SPW research grants), and training delivered at pilot galvanic lines and research facilities. Materia Nova is an approved centre for Chèques-entreprises (50% coverage up to €45,000/3 years), Win4Expertise (75% coverage up to €200,000/3 years), and French CIR tax credits, which materially defray client costs and serve as distribution channels. Customers engage Materia Nova through direct expert consultation or via referral into larger consortium projects such as the INTERREG ALCOVE lung-cancer e-Nose initiative (€6.6M with CHU Lille) and CleanAirBouw indoor-air-quality program (€4.02M).

Governance follows the Belgian ASBL non-profit model under legal representative Luc Langer, with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and Green Deal membership. Recent strategic positioning includes the March 2026 launch with UMONS of the first European Hub dedicated to micro- and nanoplastics, a Royal Visit in November 2025, and the May 2026 Réseau Nature Natagora label.

Name

Materia Nova

Legal name

Materia Nova ASBL

Website

https://materianova.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Materia Nova is a Belgian non-profit R&D centre accelerating industrial innovation in advanced materials, surface treatments, (bio)sensors, and hydrogen technologies via collaborative, project-based services backed by regional and EU subsidy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Science R&D and Surface Treatment Services

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Symbiosis & Byproduct Exchange Platforms (EUAIANAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Gas & Air Separation Equipment (ASU, PSA, Cryogenic Systems) (IMAHAEAI), Quality Tools & Problem Solving (7 QC Tools, 8D, A3, Root Cause) (EDABAKAE), Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

Keywords

• Materials science R&D
• Surface treatment technologies
• Advanced coatings development
• Hydrogen production plasmalysis
• Biosensor development

Headquarters

HQ city

Mons

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. R&D and Innovation Services: Customized product development, analysis and characterization, engineering and industrialization, and life cycle thinking services provided to industrial clients. Revenue generated through project-based contracts, technology development agreements, and consulting engagements.
2. Subsidy-supported R&D Projects: Participates in regional and EU-funded research programs (FEDER, Interreg, Wallonia research grants) where companies can access subsidized R&D services through approved center status. Services supported by Chèques-entreprises (50% coverage), Win4Expertise (75% coverage), Win4Company, and French CIR credits.
3. Training and Skills Development: Training programs delivered at pilot galvanic lines and research facilities for students and industry professionals, covering electrochemical fundamentals, process optimization, and quality control.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Materia Nova is a Belgian non-profit research and innovation center (ASBL) that delivers customized materials-science R&D services and targeted industrial solutions for surface treatments, advanced coatings, hydrogen production, biosensors, circular materials, and energy/decarbonization processes. It combines expert services (analysis, customized product development, engineering and industrialization, life-cycle thinking, project management, training) with patented technologies such as hybrid methane plasmalysis and urea electrolysis, supported by an in-house platform of wet/dry deposition, PVD, plasma, 3D printing, and characterization equipment.

Product overview

Materia Nova is a research and innovation center (ASBL) focused on materials and surface treatments, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services, solutions, and technologies. The company operates as a platform combining expert services (analysis/characterization, customized product development, engineering/industrialization, life cycle thinking, project management) with targeted solutions (low toxicity materials, high performance coatings, energy/decarbonization, circular materials, enhanced health, and innovative/advanced materials). Core technology capabilities include (bio)sensors and electronic nose devices, intelligent/active coatings, additive manufacturing, mechanical chemistry, gas treatment, wet and dry deposition technologies (sol-gel, electroplating, PVD), and plasma technologies (gas reforming, methane plasmalysis, electrocatalytic hydrogen production). Equipment platforms support research, development, and pilot-scale production across these technology areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Analysis and Characterization Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Methane plasmalysis reduces energy consumption by 2-4x compared to conventional electrolysis or steam methane reforming
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CHU LillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024CHU Lille coordinates the INTERREG ALCOVE project (€6.6M, 4 years) for lung cancer screening using electronic nose technology. Materia Nova develops miniaturized sensors integrated into e-nose devices for early lung cancer detection through exhaled air analysis.
• UMONS (University of Mons)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Long-standing collaboration spanning over 20 years in sensor and biosensor development. UMONS contributes sensor technology and transistor development for the ALCOVE project while Materia Nova handles sensitive layer transfer and micro-sensor production.
• Université de LillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner (€4.02M, 2024-2028) developing indoor air quality systems. Université de Lille collaborates with Materia Nova on air pollutant sensor optimization.
• Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner collaborating with Materia Nova on functional and structural characterization of sensors for formaldehyde, VOC, and CO detection.
• UGENTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner contributing to cross-border indoor air quality monitoring solutions.
• UNAMURminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner in the Interreg France-Wallonia-Flanders initiative.
• CEREMAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner providing scientific support for indoor air quality standards development.
• Cluster ÉcoconstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2024CleanAirBouw project partner representing sustainable construction cluster for building sector engagement.
• INSENS, B-Sens, VocSens, Walagri, Sirris, D-Tek, CER, HTP Europe SPRL, I-Care, Domintell, Coris BioConcept, Unisensor SA, Manetco, Aratialis SA, IOL Strategic DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENSOPRO consortium partners (14 companies) developing polymer-based sensors (MIPs) for integration into smart polymer products using IMSE technology for environmental, health, and agri-food sectors.
• Galio PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean funding and project development consultancy supporting Materia Nova's participation in EU research programs and subsidy programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sirris: Belgian collective research center for the manufacturing industry, offering applied R&D services in materials, surface treatments and digital production. Directly comparable as a federally-backed Belgian innovation center serving industrial clients across similar verticals.
• VITO: Flemish applied research organization active in sustainable chemistry, materials, energy and environmental technology. Comparable as a Belgian public research center providing contract R&D and pilot-scale capabilities to industry.
• Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's largest application-oriented research organization, operating dozens of institutes covering materials, surface engineering, sensors and process technology. Closest analog to Materia Nova's model of public-funded applied research contracted to industrial clients.
• CSEM: Swiss applied research center specializing in micro/nano technologies, sensors, surface treatments and systems engineering. Comparable as a public-private R&D center offering contracted applied research to industrial partners.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research organization, active in materials, hydrogen, energy and circular economy with deep industrial R&D programs. Comparable in scale and mission as a multidisciplinary applied research institute.
• TWI Ltd: UK-based R&D center focused on welding, joining, surface engineering and materials integrity, operating on a membership and contract research model. Closely aligned with Materia Nova's surface treatment and industrial testing services.
• LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology): Luxembourg's public applied research organization working on materials, environmental and industrial technologies with a similar public-mission and contract-research model. Comparable operating model within a neighboring EU economy.

Broad incumbents

• CEA Tech (CEA): French national R&T organization with deep programs in materials, hydrogen, sensors and decarbonization. Overlaps with Materia Nova's circular-economy and energy solutions from a much larger scale incumbent position.

Regional players

• Holst Centre / imec the Netherlands: Dutch applied research center co-founded by imec and TNO, focused on flexible electronics, sensors and thin-film technologies. Comparable as a public-partnership sensor research center, though more electronics-focused than Materia Nova.
• IMEC: Belgium's world-leading nanoelectronics and digital technology research center based in Leuven. Comparable as a Belgian public-private R&D center, though much larger and focused on semiconductors rather than the materials/circular economy niches Materia Nova serves.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/materianova

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Materia Nova