Certech

What Certech does

Certech is a Belgian private research center headquartered in Seneffe, founded in 1996 at the initiative of UCLouvain with support from the Walloon Region and the European Union. It operates as an enterprise-facing R&D partner and analytical-services provider, holding the status of a Walloon Region recognized research center (decree of April 4, 2024) and maintaining a joint research unit with UCLouvain since 2012. Its technical platforms center on advanced analytical chemistry and materials characterization — GC-TOFMS/Sniffing, GCxGC-HRTOFMS, olfactometry, microchamber chemical emission testing — combined with process-intensification capabilities in continuous flow chemistry for synthesis, recycling, and formulation. The center holds an Agilent Authorized Partner Laboratory designation and is accredited under ISO 9001:2015.

The organization serves industrial customers across eight verticals: life sciences, chemistry, environment, transport (automotive), polymers, energy, packaging, and construction. Named commercial relationships include Valeo Power, Stellantis (PSA), Renault, Toyota, Sil'Innov, Wishbone, Mithra, TheraVet, Dillico, Quantoom Biosciences, and ChemCom. Notable OEM qualifications (Stellantis, Renault, Toyota) and ADEME / French CIR-CII / Walloon Region approvals position Certech as an approved testing partner for the European automotive and chemical industries. It has earned the EcoVadis Silver Medal (top 15% for CSR, 2025) and participates actively in AFNOR, ISO, and CEN standardization committees.

The business model combines (i) fee-for-service analytical testing and custom R&D projects on a quote-based, multi-year contract structure, (ii) regional and EU co-funded collaborative research programs with industry, and (iii) recurring fee-based training workshops (19th edition in 2025, priced at €550-€2,500 per attendee). A staff of 35-57 employees, including roughly 35-40 scientists, executes both commercial engagements and publicly co-funded research. Revenue is split across commercial service fees, grant-funded R&D partnership projects, and workshop revenue, with no disclosed external equity funding, acquisitions, or M&A activity; growth has been organic and gradual since inception.

Name

Certech

Legal name

Certech

Website

https://certech.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Certech is a Belgian private research center founded in 1996 by UCLouvain that provides analytical chemistry, materials characterization, and continuous flow chemistry R&D services to industrial clients across life sciences, automotive, packaging, and polymer sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Analytical and R&D Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAHACAB

Stack/Source Emissions Testing & CEMS Support

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Monitoring & Sampling (Air/Water/Soil/Noise)

SECONDARYHLAJAIAG

Environmental Public Health Laboratories (Water/Air/Soil)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Laboratories & Reference Testing Networks

Keywords

• Analytical chemistry services
• Materials characterization testing
• R&D partnership services
• VOC emissions analysis
• Process intensification chemistry

Headquarters

HQ city

Seneffe

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Analytical Services: Laboratory testing and analytical services for VOC, odors, materials characterization, and compliance testing for automotive and industrial clients. Revenue generated through testing fees, analysis contracts, and service agreements.
2. R&D Partnership Projects: Collaborative research and development projects with industrial partners, funded through regional grants (Wallonia, European), technology cheques, and direct contract research. Includes product development, process optimization, and technology transfer services.
3. Industrial Partnerships: Long-term partnerships with companies for ongoing R&D support, testing services, and technology development across multiple industry sectors.
4. Training and Workshops: Educational workshops and training programs such as the Plastics Recycling Workshop offered for industry professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Certech is an independent Belgian research center providing analytical and technological services to industrial companies in (bio)chemistry sectors. Its core activity is delivering accredited laboratory testing (VOC, aldehydes, ketones, odor characterization) and executing contracted R&D partnership projects spanning materials development, process intensification, and recycling technologies. The center operates pilot-scale equipment for chemical recycling, continuous flow chemistry, and polymer processing, and is recognized by major automotive OEMs (Stellantis, Renault, Toyota) for compliance testing.

Product overview

Certech is a research center and R&D partner providing a comprehensive portfolio of analytical and technological services for companies in (bio)chemistry sectors. The offering consists of core analytical services (TD-GC-MS, GC-TOFMS/Sniffing, GC×GC-HRTOFMS, microchamber analysis), characterization and pilot equipment platforms, and domain expertise services spanning environmental quality, materials technology, and chemistry & industrial processes. Key specialized offerings include continuous flow technologies for mRNA production, enzyme analysis, and filament extrusion for 3D printing. Services serve diverse sectors including automotive, pharmaceutical, packaging, construction, energy, and life sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Analytical Services Platform Multi-technological platform for physicochemical and thermomechanical characterization of materials including spectroscopy, chromatography, microscopy, and particle characterization. Provides accredited testing services for VOC, aldehyde, ketone, and odor analysis to industrial clients in automotive, packaging, life sciences, and chemical sectors.
• R&D Partnership Services Collaborative research and development projects with industrial partners for product development, process optimization, and technology transfer across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical, environmental, energy, polymers, automotive, packaging, and construction industries.
• Pilot Equipment Services Pilot-scale equipment services for process development and scale-up from laboratory to industrial production, including extrusion lines, pyrolysis units, spray drying, micro/mesofluidic reactors, and chemical recycling systems.
• Environmental Expertise Services Services covering air quality, health and safety, energy efficiency, circular economy, and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles, including accredited sampling, analysis, and research in air quality (odours, dynamic olfactometry, odour detection threshold).
• Materials Technology Services Expertise in bio-based polymers, composites, odor and emissions from materials, lightweight materials, and mechanical recycling for polymer manufacturers and converters.
• Chemistry and Industrial Processes Services Process intensification, continuous flow chemistry, catalysis, hydrothermal synthesis, micro/mesofluidic technologies, and chemical recycling services for the chemical industry.
• Continuous Flow Technologies for mRNA Production Process intensification and continuous flow technologies for mRNA manufacturing, including microfluidic IVT reactor development, developed in collaboration with Dillico and Quantoom Biosciences for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
• Training and Workshops Educational workshops and training programs for industry professionals, such as the annual Plastics Recycling Workshop bringing together industry stakeholders, academic experts, and recycling value chain participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enabled Valeo to meet automotive manufacturer specifications for parts containing up to 80% recycled materials through odor decontamination processes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Valeo PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment project collaboration to increase recycled content in automotive parts for cabin air conditioning systems. Certech provided odor assessment and VOC identification expertise enabling Valeo to meet manufacturer specifications for parts containing up to 80% recycled materials.
• DillicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on implementation of process intensification and continuous flow technologies for transforming mRNA manufacturing. Development of custom microfluidic reactor module dedicated to IVT reaction for mRNA synthesis.
• Quantoom BiosciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on synthesis of mRNA drug substances in continuous flow. First microfluidic IVT reactor prototype confirmed possibility to synthesize mRNA in continuous flow, with ongoing work to integrate additional upstream steps.
• Sil'InnovcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of patented spray drying process for synthesis of silica particles for solubilization and controlled release of active ingredients for pharmaceutical and agro markets.
• WishbonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of patented biomaterials production process for medical implants including vascular, ophthalmic, resorbable implants, and polymer reactors for biotech applications.
• MithraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on implants for women's health applications in the life sciences sector.
• TheraVetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on polymer reactors for biotech applications and implants for animals.
• ChemComminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on odor analysis for biotechnology sector, development of potential activators/inhibitors of human olfactory receptors (hOR).
• Agilent TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Partner Laboratory of Agilent Technologies for expertise in chromatography including GPC, TREF, and TD-GC-MS. Provides access to advanced analytical technology and expertise.
• UCLouvain (Catholic University of Louvain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner from which Certech was created in 1996; joint research unit established in 2012 to strengthen collaboration and formalize R&D and technology transfer activities.
• University of SavoieminorOthersGuest lecturer and professor exchange for sustainable chemistry, process intensification, and advanced microscopy education.
• CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers)minorOthersGuest professor at CNAM for sustainable chemistry and process intensification education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company with broad materials, environmental, and life sciences testing services. Provides scaled alternatives to Certech's analytical services across automotive and chemical sectors, though with much wider geographic reach and less specialization in VOC/odor.
• Intertek: Global quality assurance and testing company providing analytical services across chemicals, materials, polymers, and consumer products. Comparable in automotive materials testing and polymer characterization, though with broader portfolio and international scale.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in analytical testing with extensive environmental, materials, and life sciences testing services. Directly comparable as a contract analytical laboratory serving regulated industries including automotive and pharma, though at vastly larger scale across many more geographies and test categories than Certech.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company serving industrial clients with materials testing, environmental services, and compliance verification. Comparable overlap in automotive materials testing and air quality services, though operating as a broader portfolio TIC incumbent.

Direct peers

• TNO: Dutch applied research organization offering contract R&D and analytical services across chemistry, materials, and environmental domains. Comparable contract research partnership model, applied science capabilities, and industrial client base across European OEMs and chemical companies.
• Element Materials Technology: Specialized materials testing and characterization services company serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial clients. Comparable in materials characterization and failure analysis offerings, though operating at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• VITO: Flemish applied research center with comparable scope in environmental technology, sustainable chemistry, and materials characterization. Strong peer given Belgian proximity, similar public/private hybrid funding model, and overlap in air quality, recycling, and circular economy R&D.
• Sirris: Belgian collective research center supporting manufacturing industry with applied R&D services in materials, polymers, and process technologies. Comparable Belgian footprint, similar R&D partnership model, and overlapping client base in automotive, polymers, and packaging sectors.
• Smithers: Specialized provider of testing, consulting, and research services for materials, polymers, and industrial sectors. Comparable in polymer analysis, materials characterization, and industry-specific testing services, with similar mid-sized specialized positioning.
• Fraunhofer Society: German applied research organization operating institutes as contract R&D partners for industrial clients with public co-funding. Closely comparable business model to Certech: applied chemistry/materials research, industrial partnerships, public-private co-funding, and pilot-scale capabilities — though with substantially broader scope and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certech

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Certech