CIDAF Centro Tecnológico

What CIDAF Centro Tecnológico does

CIDAF – Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Alimento Funcional is a private, non-listed Spanish technology center constituted in 2012 and headquartered at the Granada Health Sciences Technology Park (PTS). It is a multidisciplinary R&D services provider operating across bioactive ingredient extraction, encapsulation, analytical characterization, bioactivity evaluation, and pilot-scale process development for the agriculture, food, animal nutrition, and cosmetics sectors. The organization serves enterprise customers such as Grupo La Caña, Espadafor, Torres Morente / Aceites Maeva, Monteloeder, Natac, Mahou, Damm, Covap, Puleva, and Abbott, alongside cooperatives and public research institutions including the University of Granada and CSIC. Its technology base comprises a 130 m² research laboratory (extraction, encapsulation, characterization, microbiology, data processing) and a 400 m² pilot plant (drying, encapsulation, filtration, UHT/autoclave heat treatment, homogenization, fermentation, aseptic packaging), instrumented with HPLC-DAD, HPLC-QTOF-MS, and GC-QTOF-MS platforms and bioactivity assay suites (FRAP, DPPH, TEAC, ORAC, enzymatic, antimicrobial, prebiotic).

The company monetizes through three streams: (i) fee-for-service R&D contracts with private companies covering extraction, encapsulation, analytical testing, bioactivity assessment, and pilot process scaling; (ii) scientific and technical consultancy including technology watch, regulatory guidance, and project-application support; and (iii) participation in publicly funded R&D projects under regional, national, and European grant schemes (Junta de Andalucía, Ministry of Agriculture, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, H2020). Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, anchored in the Andalusian agri-food cluster and layered through ecosystem partnerships (ACENTA, INOLEO AEI, CITOLIVA, CITAQUA, Fundación PTS) and operational groups that bundle industry partners, technology centers, and academia around specific valorization themes (TOMAGROUP, MACROALGAE, CHERRY4FOOD, BIOREVALEAF, SMARTBIOFERT, PROSOST, ECOINSECT, AGUACAVALUE, METABOLAID).

To date, the organization reports 265 services delivered to companies, 52 R&D projects participated in as leader/member/subcontractor, 160 client entities served across public and private sectors, and 450+ publications in high-impact journals. It holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. It generates no proprietary software or AI products, and no data on revenue, headcount trajectory, capital raised, or ownership is disclosed.

Name

CIDAF Centro Tecnológico

Legal name

CIDAF – Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Alimento Funcional

Website

https://cidaf.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIDAF is a Granada-based Spanish technology center (founded 2012) that delivers B2B R&D services in bioactive ingredient extraction, encapsulation, analytical characterization, bioactivity assessment, and pilot-scale process development to agri-food, animal nutrition, cosmetics, and public research clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Granada

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. R&D Services: CIDAF generates revenue through providing specialized R&D services to companies including extraction and encapsulation, analytical services, bioactivity assessment, and pilot process development. Services are tailored to client needs with scientific guidance and consultancy support.
2. Consultancy Services: Scientific and technical consultancy including technology watch, regulatory aspects, process development and optimization, and R&D project application support.
3. Publicly Funded R&D Projects: Participation in funded research projects supported by regional, national, and European funding bodies (Junta de Andalucía, Ministry of Agriculture, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIDAF is a multidisciplinary technology center that provides R&D services to companies and public institutions across the agriculture, food, livestock, and cosmetics sectors. Its core offerings include extraction and encapsulation of bioactive ingredients, analytical characterization, bioactivity assessment, pilot-scale process development, and scientific consultancy. Services leverage laboratory facilities (130 m²) and a pilot plant (400 m²) to transform agricultural by-products into high-value bioactive ingredients for functional food, nutraceutical, dermocosmetic, and animal nutrition applications.

Product overview

CIDAF Centro Tecnológico is a multidisciplinary technology center specializing in bioactive ingredients for agriculture, food, livestock, and cosmetics sectors. The organization offers an integrated service portfolio comprising five core service lines: Extraction and Encapsulation of Ingredients, Analytical Services, Bioactivity Assessment, Pilot Process Development and Scaling, and Consultancy Services. These services are supported by research laboratory facilities (130m2) and a pilot plant (400m2) located within the Granada Health Sciences Technology Park. The center focuses on functional food development, circular economy, and bioactive compound research across priority areas including functional food and health, dermocosmetics, byproduct valorization, bioactive compound biotechnology, and animal health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Extracción y Encapsulación de Ingredientes

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ scientific publications in high-impact journals demonstrating research excellence
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INOLEO AEIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2025The only Innovative Business Group (AEI) in Spain for the olive oil supplier sector. CIDAF joined to contribute expertise in bioactives, circular economy, and applied biotechnology, enabling collaboration with olive oil producers and technology centers throughout the value chain.
• ACENTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2021Association created to coordinate and enhance innovation and knowledge transfer among Andalusian technology centers. CIDAF participated in the founding of ACENTA which brings together Andalusian technology centers to strengthen R&D support for businesses.
• Fundación PTScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2021Collaboration on meet-up series about subproduct valorization with 4 sessions covering bioactive compound sourcing, bioactivity evaluation, encapsulation, and regulatory aspects.
• Fundación UnicajaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2021Sponsor of the subproduct valorization meet-up series.
• Cooperativa BidafarmaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2021Sponsor of the subproduct valorization meet-up series.
• DempocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in SMARTBIOFERT project for intelligent biofertilizer development.
• onTech InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in SMARTBIOFERT project for intelligent biofertilizer development.
• Herogra GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of SMARTBIOFERT project meetings; collaboration on biofertilizer development.
• TecnovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology center partner in TOMAGROUP and MACROALGAE projects, providing biochemical analysis of soil and plant samples.
• Química MasulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MACROALGAE project for macroalgae valorization.
• CTAQUA Centro Tecnológico de AcuiculturaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator and advisor in MACROALGAE project.
• Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de GranadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TOMAGROUP, MACROALGAE, CHERRY4FOOD, and ECOINSECT projects; crop monitoring for TOMAGROUP biostimulant trials.
• Agrolaboratorios Nutricionales, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of biostimulant formulations for TOMAGROUP project using CIDAF's tomato discard extracts.
• EconaturcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ECOINSECT project for sustainable protein production through insect rearing.
• InsectaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ECOINSECT project for insect-based protein production.
• FIDESOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ECOINSECT project.
• Torres Morente / Aceites MaevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading company in BIOREVALEAF project; international turnover of 72% with exports over 70% of annual sales.
• University of Granada (UGR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in multiple projects including BIOREVALEAF, PROSOST, and ELIMET; researchers from UGR collaborate on bioactive compound research.
• MonteloedercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of METABOLAID H2020 project for weight control ingredient validation.
• Natac BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AGUACAVALUE project for avocado by-product valorization.
• CSIC EE-ZAIDINcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in INNOLEAF project for olive leaf ingredient development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution, operating multiple food and bioactive-related institutes (CIAL, IATA, EEZ). Direct competitor and partner to CIDAF offering overlapping R&D capabilities at subsidized public rates, with broader mandate across scientific disciplines.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in food testing, analytical services, and product R&D support. Comparable to CIDAF in analytical chemistry and bioactivity assessment offerings but operating as a large commercial incumbent with much broader service portfolio and international footprint.

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer IVV (Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging): German Fraunhofer institute focused on food process engineering, extraction, encapsulation, and bioactive ingredient research. Highly comparable to CIDAF in technical capabilities (extraction, encapsulation, pilot scaling) and noted as both a CIDAF customer and a competitor archetype in European food R&D.
• CNTA - Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria: Spanish food technology center providing R&D, analytical, and pilot plant services to the agri-food industry. Closely comparable to CIDAF in service portfolio (extraction, bioactivity, pilot scaling) and target client segments, differing mainly in larger scale and broader product scope.
• Ainia Centro Tecnológico: Valencia-based Spanish food technology center offering R&D, pilot plant, and consultancy services across food processing, bioactive ingredients, and functional foods. Directly comparable service model and customer base to CIDAF, though at substantially larger scale.
• AZTI Centro de Investigación Marina y Alimentaria: Basque Country research center providing R&D services in marine and food bioactive ingredients, with extraction, characterization, and bioactivity assessment capabilities. Comparable to CIDAF in technical focus and Spain-based technology center model.
• Tecnova Centro Tecnológico: Almería-based Spanish agri-food technology center that partners with CIDAF on TOMAGROUP and MACROALGAE projects. Comparable Andalusian technology center model with overlapping R&D service offerings to agri-food clients.
• CITOLIVA: Jaén-based Spanish technology center specializing in olive oil R&D and active INOLEO AEI cluster partner with CIDAF. Comparable technology center structure with sector specialization in agro-industrial value chain development.

Regional players

• Teagasc Food Research Centre: Irish national food R&D body offering extraction, characterization, and bioactivity services to food companies. Comparable technical capabilities to CIDAF in functional food and bioactive ingredient development, though operating in different geography (Ireland).
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish applied research organization providing food, bioeconomy, and bioactive ingredient R&D services across Europe. Comparable technology and service offering to CIDAF but operating primarily in Nordic/Baltic geographies and at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cidaf-centro-tecnologico

Compliance2 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 CIDAF Centro Tecnológico