BIC Brno

What BIC Brno does

BIC Brno spol. s r.o. is a privately held Czech research organization founded in 1991 in Brno, operating as part of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN). The firm conducts applied research across three thematic areas — circular economy, modern energy, and geology (with a specific focus on carbonatites and strategic raw materials) — and serves research institutions, innovative companies, and public-sector clients in the Czech Republic and across European consortia. BIC Brno is notably the sole private solver of the GAČR EXPRO excellent science project on carbonatite geochemistry (2019-2023) and maintains a Scientific Council of 29 professors drawn from nine Czech universities.

The organization's core technology assets include an in-house analytical laboratory equipped with an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS mass spectrometer coupled to an Analyte Excite+ 193 nm excimer laser ablation system (Teledyne CETAC), enabling high-sensitivity elemental and isotopic analysis of solid and liquid samples including matrices with up to 25% TDS. Product and service lines span analytical laboratory services, R&D consulting, international cooperation support (Horizon 2020, EUREKA, Eurostars), and modular innovation education programs (Innovation Advisors Training, Innovation into Practice). BIC Brno has also developed a circular public procurement methodology delivered in four languages through the Erasmus+ program and operates the NEJinovátor innovation competition, recently expanded beyond the South Moravian Region.

Revenue is generated primarily through grant-funded research projects from Czech agencies (TAČR, GAČR, OPPIK) and EU programs (Horizon 2020, Erasmus+), supplemented by fee-based consulting and analytical services. Pricing for analytical services is determined per engagement based on time, matrix, sample count, and target elements/isotopes. The firm holds memberships in EBN, the Association of Research Organizations (AVO), Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČR, and Svaz moderní energetiky, and partners with international organizations including BIOAZUL (Spain) and INCIEN (Czech Republic and Slovakia).

Name

BIC Brno

Legal name

BIC Brno spol. s r.o.

Website

https://bicbrno.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BIC Brno is a private Czech applied research organization founded in 1991 that conducts research in circular economy, modern energy, and geology, serving research institutions, innovative companies, and public-sector clients through grant-funded projects, consulting, and an ICP-MS analytical laboratory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brno

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: BIC Brno generates revenue through national and international research projects funded by TAČR (Technology Agency of Czech Republic), GAČR (Grant Agency of Czech Republic), OPPIK, EU programs (Horizon 2020, Erasmus+), and other grant programs.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: Expert consulting and advisory services in innovation, circular economy, and modern energy sectors provided to companies and institutions.
3. Analytical Services: Fee-based elemental and isotopic analysis services using ICP-MS equipment for external clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BIC Brno is a private research organization offering applied research, consulting, and analytical services focused on circular economy, modern energy, and geology. It operates an ICP-MS analytical laboratory for elemental and isotopic analysis and delivers innovation education, R&D project support, and international research cooperation services to companies, universities, and public-sector organizations.

Product overview

BIC Brno operates as a private research organization and business/innovation center established in 1991. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected services including analytical laboratory services (ICP-MS based elemental and isotopic analysis), innovation education programs, R&D consulting and international cooperation support. The company focuses research activities on three main areas: circular economy (waste as resource, circular public procurement, bioeconomy), modern energetics (active energy consumers, renewable sources, community energy), and geology (carbonatite research, rare earth elements, strategic raw materials). These services are offered to research institutions, innovative companies, and public sector organizations across the Czech Republic and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Analytical Laboratory Services In-house analytical laboratory equipped with an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS mass spectrometer and Analyte Excite+ laser ablation system (Teledyne CETAC, 193nm excimer laser) providing fee-based elemental and isotopic analysis of solid and liquid samples for external research and industry clients.
• Innovation Education Programs Modular training and coaching-based courses including 'Innovation Advisors Training' (Vzdělávání inovačních poradců) and 'Innovation into Practice' (Inovace do praxe) covering technology foresight, financing, sales, IP protection, and technology transfer for corporate employees and SMEs.
• R&D Consulting and Advisory Services Expert advisory and assistance for research projects, including support for international programs such as HORIZON 2020, EUREKA, and Eurostars, plus project administration and methodology development for circular public procurement and innovation processes.
• International Cooperation Support Partner-matching and information services facilitating international research partnerships, participation in EU programs (HORIZONT 2020, EUREKA, Eurostars, Erasmus+), and joint consortium-building with foreign partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sole private solver of GAČR EXPRO excellent science project in geology (2019-2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Association of Research Organizations (AVO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991AVO advocates for organizations whose research and development results are predominantly used commercially. It is the only association in the Czech Republic representing applied research and development in the business sector.
• European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIC Brno was established in 1991 as part of the European network of business and innovation centers EBN. The network's goal is to support innovation and its implementation in practice.
• Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČR (Chamber of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSP ČR is a non-governmental voluntary organization associating employers and entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic.
• Svaz moderní energetiky (Modern Energy Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMEČR is a umbrella platform that opens opportunities for innovative technologies and new approaches. The platform connects smart solutions for Czech economic growth and offers a common voice for professional associations in modern energy.
• INCIEN (Institute of Circular Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINCIEN (Czech Republic) collaborated with BIC Brno on circular economy methodology development, including circular public procurement methodology project within Erasmus+ program.
• BIOAZULcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish partner in the Erasmus+ circular procurement methodology project. Project partners from Czechia, Spain, and Slovakia met to finalize the methodology.
• INCIEN SKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlovak partner in the Erasmus+ circular procurement methodology project.
• Svaz moderní energetiky (Modern Energy Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Svaz moderní energetiky on the project 'Energeticky aktivní spotřebitelé' (Energy Active Consumers) funded by TAČR Théta program.
• Česká geologická služba (Czech Geological Survey)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Czech Geological Survey on the Karbonatity conference about strategic raw materials.
• Národní technické muzeum (National Technical Museum)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference venue partner for the Karbonatity conference held at the National Technical Museum in Prague.
• Grantová agentura ČR (Grant Agency of the Czech Republic)coreOthersGAČR provides funding for the EXPRO project 'Vývoj staveb a geochemické signatury karbonatitů v čase' (Development of structures and geochemical signatures of carbonatites over time), project no. 19-29124X, 2019-2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in laboratory analytical testing services, including elemental and isotopic analysis. Comparable to BIC Brno's ICP-MS analytical laboratory business line, though operating globally at vastly greater scale across thousands of testing categories.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state-owned research institute offering applied research, laboratory testing, and innovation services across sustainability, energy, and materials. Comparable to BIC Brno in offering publicly funded applied research combined with fee-based lab services.
• Fraunhofer Society: Europe's largest applied research organization with institutes spanning materials, energy, and circular economy. Comparable as a non-university applied research partner competing for the same EU funding programs (Horizon, EUREKA) and offering similar contract research services, but at vastly greater scale.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization offering contract research, advisory, and specialized laboratory services to industry and government. Comparable to BIC Brno across circular economy, energy transition, and geological/raw materials research areas.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organization providing contract R&D, laboratory services, and innovation consulting across energy, materials, and sustainability. Comparable to BIC Brno as a state-affiliated applied research provider, though operating at far greater scale with publicly disclosed financials.

Emerging players

• Anthesis Group: Global sustainability consultancy advising corporates and public-sector clients on circular economy, energy transition, and ESG strategy. Comparable as a competing consulting provider in the same circular economy and energy advisory market BIC Brno targets.
• Metabolic: Dutch sustainability consultancy and venture builder working on circular economy, climate, and regional energy transitions. Comparable to BIC Brno's consulting work in circular economy implementation and modern energy topics, particularly for public-sector and municipal clients.

Direct peers

• Circle Economy: Dutch impact organization providing circular economy consulting, methodologies, and tools to businesses and municipalities. Comparable to BIC Brno's circular economy consulting and methodology-development work, particularly the circular public procurement framework.
• INCIEN (Institute of Circular Economy): Czech circular economy institute that collaborated with BIC Brno on circular public procurement methodology under Erasmus+. Highly comparable as a private applied-research and consulting organization focused on circular economy policy and practice.
• South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC): Regional Czech innovation center supporting research organizations, innovative companies, and academic partnerships. Directly comparable to BIC Brno as a domestic innovation intermediary with overlapping missions in research support, international cooperation, and technology transfer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 BIC Brno