What Qubit Systems does

Qubit Systems Inc. is a privately held Canadian scientific instrumentation manufacturer founded in 1996 by university researchers affiliated with Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where it remains headquartered. The company designs, manufactures, and sells gas analyzers and integrated measurement systems used to quantify gas exchange (CO2, O2, H2, CH4) in plants, animals, insects, aquatic species, algae, soil, and humans. Its core technology stack centers on proprietary sensors such as the patented S104 DOX differential oxygen analyzer (±1 ppm O2 resolution against an air background) and complementary NDIR and laser-diode CO2 analyzers, bundled into modular Q-Box research packages and rugged field-portable form factors including the wearable VOCO CPX system.配套 software (C901 Logger Pro) and data acquisition interfaces (C610 LabQuest Mini) provide experiment control, calibration, and analysis. Qubit also distributes Vienna Scientific soil/root/water sampling and phenotyping products in North America and partners with Photon Systems Instruments on plant phenotyping systems and with JB Hyperspectral on hyperspectral vegetation monitoring in the Americas.

Name

Qubit Systems

Legal name

Qubit Systems Inc.

Website

https://qubitsystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Qubit Systems Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of scientific gas exchange and respirometry instrumentation (CO2, O2, H2, CH4 analyzers) serving academic researchers, educational institutions, and industry customers in plant, animal, insect, aquatic, soil, algal, and human physiology applications worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Gas exchange analyzers
• Respirometry instruments
• Biological sensors
• Scientific instrumentation
• Environmental monitoring equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrumentation Hardware Sales: Sale of gas analyzers, environmental sensors, respirometry systems, and biological measurement instruments. Products include standalone analyzers, modular Q-Box packages, Q-teach teaching packages, and complete turnkey systems. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with no recurring subscription component for core instrumentation.
2. Consultation and Customization Services: Free consultation for research and teaching needs. Customization of Q-Box packages to accommodate multiple applications based on customer specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Qubit Systems Inc. manufactures and sells scientific instrumentation for biological sciences, including gas analyzers (CO2, O2, H2, CH4), environmental sensors, modular Q-Box research packages, the VOCO wearable cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) system, Q-teach teaching packages, and hyperspectral analysis systems. Products are sold directly and through 19 international distributors to research institutions, universities, and industry customers for applications spanning plant physiology, soil respiration, animal/insect/aquatic respirometry, human metabolism, and environmental monitoring.

Product overview

Qubit Systems Inc. specializes in scientific research instrumentation for biological sciences, offering a broad portfolio of gas analyzers, environmental sensors, and integrated measurement systems. The product portfolio centers on core analyzer products (S104 DOX, S159, S157, S151, S147) for measuring CO2, O2, and other gases, combined with portable Q-Box Research Packages that bundle analyzers with chambers, pumps, and software for specific research applications. Teaching-focused Q-teach Packages provide budget-friendly laboratory learning solutions. The flagship VOCO wearable CPX system enables field-based metabolic testing, while hyperspectral analysis systems (ROX, FLOX, NOX) support vegetation and environmental monitoring. Advanced plant phenotyping systems are offered in partnership with Photon Systems Instruments. Data acquisition is handled through C610 LabQuest Mini interfaces and C901 Logger Pro software. As a North American distributor for Vienna Scientific, the company also extends its portfolio with soil, root, and water sampling equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOCO: Wearable breath-by-breath CPX system for measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) during rest and exercise, priced at $18,000 USD.
• Q-Box Research Packages
• Q-teach Packages
• PlantScreen

Products and services

• VOCO Wearable CPX System A rugged, wearable breath-by-breath cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) system weighing less than 1 kg that measures VO2, VCO2, heart rate, and breathing dynamics. Combines an NDIR CO2 analyzer, fuel cell O2 sensor, pneumotach spirometer, and an intuitive mobile app for real-time metabolic data visualization in field and laboratory settings; priced at $18,000 USD.
• S104 DOX Differential O2 Analyzer Patented differential oxygen analyzer offering ±1 ppm O2 resolution against a background of air. Measures real-time respiratory oxygen consumption from tiny insects and photosynthetic oxygen production from a single intact leaf; described as the world's only differential oxygen analyzer with this capability and the greatest dynamic range of any oxygen analyzer on the market.
• S159 CO2 and O2 Analyzer Combination of a flow-through non-dispersive infrared CO2 analyzer, galvanic cell O2 sensor, and built-in pressure sensor housed in a temperature-controlled rugged case. Designed for field use with an optional battery pack for environmental and biological gas exchange measurements.
• S157 CO2 Analyzer Single-channel flow-through non-dispersive infrared CO2 analyzer measuring CO2 in the 0-2000 ppm range with 1 ppm resolution. Suited for CO2 exchange measurements with leaves, insects, small animals, and soil respiration.
• S151 CO2 Analyzer Non-dispersive infrared CO2 analyzer measuring CO2 in the 0-2000 ppm range with 1 ppm resolution. A dependable, rugged, and modular design used within Q-Box packages or as a stand-alone instrument for CO2 measurements.
• S147 Rapid Response O2/CO2 Analyzer Combines a laser diode O2 sensor and infrared CO2 detector for rapid response measurements, with 150 ms CO2 and 140 ms O2 response times. Designed for breath-by-breath human respiration measurements and dynamic gas exchange studies.
• Q-Box Research Packages Modular laboratory packages in rugged portable cases pre-configured with gas analyzers, pumps, and flow meters that can be swapped depending on experiment type. Cover plant CO2 analysis, low/high range respiration, soil respiration, aquatic respiration, nitrogen fixation, human respirometry, and breath-by-breath analysis, including data acquisition interfaces and software.
• Q-teach Packages Economically priced, easy-to-set-up teaching packages for biological sciences education, providing hands-on laboratory learning. Offerings include animal CO2, animal CO2 and O2, plant CO2, human CO2 and O2, and aquatic teaching packages.
• Plant Phenotyping and Cultivation Systems Advanced plant phenotyping screening and cultivation instrumentation offered in partnership with Photon Systems Instruments, including modular systems, robotic XYZ systems, compact systems, controlled environments, and LED lighting.
• Hyperspectral Analysis Systems (ROX, FLOX, NOX) Tower-deployed field instrumentation for monitoring solar irradiance, solar reflection, and solar-induced fluorescence to support plant growth analysis, biochemical status assessment, and environmental monitoring. Distributed in the Americas through a partnership with JB Hyperspectral.
• CISME (Coral In-Situ Metabolism) System for in-situ coral reef monitoring and metabolism measurements of coral ecosystems.
• BBB1LP Breath-by-Breath Respirometry Package Package for measuring steady-state and dynamic changes in human metabolic rate including VO2, VCO2, VO2max, resting metabolic rate, and respiratory exchange ratio on a breath-by-breath basis.
• HE1LP Human Electrophysiology Package Package for investigating electrophysiological aspects of human physiology measuring EKG, EMG, dynamometry, GSR, and EOG in a safe, non-invasive manner.
• FL23 Algal CO2 Analysis Package System for measuring CO2 exchange from algae in the headspace of a plexiglass cuvette, designed for algal photosynthesis studies, bacterial respiration, and fermentation research.
• C901 Logger Pro Software Data acquisition software for PC and Mac integrating real-time graphing, analytical functions, calibration procedures, and data storage. Compatible with all Qubit sensors with autodetection capability; supplied with a site license for multiple installations.
• C610 LabQuest Mini Data Interface Sensor data acquisition interface for computer-based data collection with 100 kHz sampling rate, compatible with Logger Pro software.
• Vienna Scientific Products (North American Distribution) North American distribution of Vienna Scientific products including soil, root and water samplers, soil moisture sensors, root phenotyping systems, growth pouches for soilless root phenotyping, UHD minirhizotron cameras, and insect mass rearing equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Instruments lasting 20+ years without significant maintenance in some laboratories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Vienna ScientificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQubit Systems is the North American distributor for Vienna Scientific products including soil, root and water samplers, sensors for soil moisture monitoring, root phenotyping and screening systems, growth pouches for soilless root phenotyping, UHD minirhizotron cameras, and insect mass rearing equipment for entomological projects and pest control strategies.
• JB HyperspectralcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQubit Systems distributes FLOX (solar-induced fluorescence), ROX (hyperspectral reflectance), and NOX (NIR reflectance) systems across the Americas in partnership with JB Hyperspectral. These tower-deployed systems enable remote monitoring of photosynthetic activity and plant biochemical status.
• Photon Systems InstrumentsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQubit Systems together with Photon Systems Instruments offers the most sophisticated range of plant phenotyping screening and cultivation instrumentation. Their combined expertise in imaging, LED lighting systems, environmental control, and robotics has led to the development of advanced plant phenomics screening instrumentation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sable Systems International: Sable Systems builds high-resolution respirometry and gas exchange systems for animal, insect, and human metabolic research, directly overlapping with Qubit's Q-Box respirometry packages, breath-by-breath systems, and animal/insect analyzers.
• PP Systems: PP Systems produces CIRAS and other portable gas analyzers for plant physiology, soil respiration, and field photosynthesis research, making it a direct peer to Qubit's S151/S157 CO2 analyzers and plant/soil Q-Box packages.
• Hansatech Instruments: Hansatech manufactures chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen electrode instruments for photosynthesis and respiration research, directly comparable to Qubit's S104 DOX and plant/algal measurement offerings.
• Photon Systems Instruments: PSI builds plant phenotyping and cultivation systems and is a co-development partner of Qubit; their platforms overlap directly with Qubit's plant phenotyping product family and compete in the same buyer segment.
• LI-COR Biosciences: LI-COR manufactures gas analyzers (LI-6400/LI-6800 portable photosynthesis systems) and imaging systems for plant biology, soil, and environmental research — a direct competitor to Qubit's S-series CO2/O2 analyzers and Q-Box plant research packages.
• ADC BioScientific: ADC BioScientific designs gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence systems for plant science and environmental research, overlapping with Qubit's CO2/O2 analyzers and Q-Box plant research packages.
• COSMED: COSMED makes metabolic and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) equipment, directly comparable to Qubit's VOCO wearable breath-by-breath CPX system in human metabolic and exercise physiology research.
• Heinz Walz GmbH: Walz manufactures photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence instrumentation (e.g., PAM fluorometers, GFS-3000) for plant biology research, a direct peer in gas exchange and plant physiology measurement.

Broad incumbents

• Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo is a broad analytical instruments incumbent offering gas analyzers, sensors, and laboratory measurement solutions; while not a direct competitor in niche biological research, it overlaps in environmental and laboratory gas analysis.
• Campbell Scientific: Campbell Scientific manufactures environmental measurement instrumentation and data acquisition systems for field research, overlapping with Qubit's environmental sensors, C610 data interface, and ecosystem monitoring offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qubit-systems-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Qubit Systems