IPRATECH

What IPRATECH does

IPRATECH SA is a Belgian biotech engineering company founded in 2007 and headquartered at BioPark Charleroi in Gosselies, Belgium. The company designs and manufactures automated cell culture control platforms and acoustic filtration systems for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and biotech research applications. Its core product family, CYTOSYS, consists of three tiers of bioreactor controllers — LITE (entry-level, polyvalent), PRIME (mid-range, standard basis), and BRIGHT (fully customizable with up to 90 inputs/outputs and 16 P.I.D. controllers) — that integrate sensors, actuators, pumps, heating/cooling systems, and a web-based HMI. The CYTOSYS PRIME software is CFR 21 Part 11 compliant, enabling use in regulated pharmaceutical environments. The complementary CYTOPERF product is an acoustic filtration device using resonant ultrasonic waves to separate cells from supernatant without clogging, fouling, or shear stress, available in sterilizable or single-use versions.

IPRATECH serves biopharmaceutical manufacturers producing biologics, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and cell/gene therapies, as well as biotech R&D laboratories requiring flexible process development tooling. Revenue is generated through direct sales of hardware (controllers and filtration systems), supplemented by Engineering Services for custom automation and MVP development. Go-to-market combines direct sales from Belgium with regional US distributors (APICells for the Boston area, FLOTEK for the West Coast) and wholly-owned subsidiaries including APICELLS Inc (US commercialization, established 2013), EMMA (in-house production, established 2022), and IPRASENSE SAS (France, lensless microscopy products, established 2013). The company operates with approximately 14 employees and is founder-controlled, with no disclosed external funding rounds. Strategic positioning includes membership in the iConsensus consortium alongside major EFPIA partners (Sanofi, GSK, Pfizer, Bayer, UCB Biopharma, Rentschler Biopharma), and recent moves include the March 2024 acquisition of Fermscale and a 2024 partnership with Conveyxo for exosome production platform development.

Name

IPRATECH

Legal name

IPRATECH SA

Website

https://ipratech.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPRATECH is a Belgian biotech engineering company that develops automated cell culture control platforms (CYTOSYS) and acoustic filtration systems (CYTOPERF) for biopharmaceutical manufacturers and research laboratories, distributing primarily through direct sales and US regional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioprocess Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Culture & Bioprocess Lab Equipment (Bioreactors, Single-Use Systems, Controllers) (HLAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Cell culture controllers
• Acoustic filtration systems
• Bioreactor automation platforms
• Bioprocess control equipment
• Biopharmaceutical engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gosselies

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cell Culture Control Platforms: Sale of automated cell culture controller systems (CYTOSYS LITE, PRIME, BRIGHT) including hardware, software, and accessories for bioreactor control in biopharmaceutical production.
2. CYTOPERF Acoustic Filtration Systems: Sale of acoustic filtration devices available in sterilizable or single-use versions. Used in perfusion cultures, clarification, cell washing, and continuous cell banking applications.
3. Engineering Services: Professional R&D services including MVP development for startups, custom automation solutions, and support for innovative concept development. Helps build and test innovative concepts for startups and enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IPRATECH designs, manufactures, and sells automated cell culture control platforms (the CYTOSYS family in LITE, PRIME, and BRIGHT tiers) and acoustic filtration systems (CYTOPERF) used by biopharmaceutical manufacturers and biotech laboratories for bioreactor control, perfusion processes, and gentle cell separation. The company also offers engineering services including MVP development for startups and custom automation solutions. Products are sold with integrated hardware and software, supported by technical consultation and a distributor network spanning Europe and the United States.

Product overview

IPRATECH is a biotech engineering company that has developed a portfolio of automated cell culture control platforms and acoustic filtration systems. The core product line is the CYTOSYS family, consisting of three tiers: CYTOSYS LITE (entry-level, versatile controller), CYTOSYS PRIME (mid-range with standard basis and multiple ancillaries), and CYTOSYS BRIGHT (fully customizable solution with up to 90 inputs/outputs). These control platforms are complemented by CYTOPERF, an acoustic filtration system based on resonant ultrasonic waves for gentle cell separation. Engineering Services are offered for custom R&D and MVP development. All products are designed for biopharmaceutical applications including cell culture, perfusion, and downstream processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CYTOSYS: Control platform for advanced cell culture process. Available in three versions: LITE (smallest, polyvalent), PRIME (standard basis, multiple ancillaries), and BRIGHT (fully customizable, up to 90 inputs/outputs, 16 P.I.D.)
• CYTOSYS LITE
• CYTOSYS PRIME
• CYTOSYS BRIGHT
• CYTOPERF

Products and services

• CYTOSYS LITE The smallest and most versatile CYTOSYS controller, designed to control probes, sensors, pumps, heating, and cooling for cell culture applications. A polyvalent entry-level solution for laboratory cell culture control needs.
• CYTOSYS PRIME Mid-range CYTOSYS control platform designed for standard culture projects with flexibility through ancillaries. Supports 4 variable-speed peristaltic pumps (0.005 RPM resolution), sensors, actuators, cooling, and precision mass flows for Air, O2, and CO2. CFR 21 Part 11 compatible software.
• CYTOSYS BRIGHT Fully customizable CYTOSYS control platform with up to 90 inputs/outputs and up to 16 P.I.D. controllers. Integrates sensors, actuators, heating/cooling systems, pumps, and MODBUS or classic probes in a compact footprint (35D x 20W x 50H cm). Designed for complex bioreactor control in development and production environments.
• CYTOPERF Acoustic filtration device using resonant ultrasonic waves for gentle cell manipulation and separation from supernatant. Eliminates clogging, fouling, and shear stress issues associated with traditional filtration. Available in sterilizable or single-use versions. Used in perfusion cultures, clarification, cell washing, and continuous cell banking applications. Perfusion cultures can be maintained from one week up to nine months using this system.
• Engineering Services Professional R&D services including MVP development for startups, custom automation solutions, and support for building and testing innovative biotech concepts. Agile experts specialize in helping startups accelerate to market with robust and scalable solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perfusion cultures can be maintained from one week up to nine months using the Acoustic Perfusion system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ConveyxocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for implementation of a cutting-edge multi-scale platform for exosome production. The platform driven by EXO-HARVEST technology is now fully operational in IPRATECH's lab. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing biotechnological solutions through engineering excellence.
• iConsensus ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research consortium supported by Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). IPRATECH works with 8 medium-sized enterprises, 4 academic institutes, and 7 EFPIA partners including Sanofi, GSK, Pfizer, Bayer, UCB Biopharma, Rentschler Biopharma. Goal is to provide innovative solutions for faster, safer development of biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.
• Université de MonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the iConsensus consortium for high-throughput platform development for biopharmaceutical production.
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the iConsensus consortium providing expertise in animal cell technology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• RWTH Aachen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the iConsensus consortium contributing to high-throughput solutions for mammalian cell cultivation.
• Iprasense SAScoreTechnology or IntegrationFrench subsidiary of IPRATECH Group developing lensless holography microscopy technology for live cell monitoring, cell viability analysis, and cell counting. Products include Cytonote, Norma, and slides.
• EMMAcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerProduction subsidiary that assembles finished products including Cytosys and Cytoperf for IPRATECH and Iprasense. Located in Gosselies, Belgium.
• APICELLS InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based subsidiary established in 2013 for commercialization of IPRATECH products on American territory. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts.
• LME (Les Musées de l'Enterprise)minorOthersFinance and support partner for IPRATECH.
• SofinexminorOthersFinance and support partner for IPRATECH based in Wallonia, Belgium.
• Invest-Mons (IMBC)minorOthersRegional investment and support partner for IPRATECH.
• Wallonia Region (DGO6)minorOthersRegional government support for IPRATECH R&D projects including CYTOPERF acoustic filtration development (convention obtained in 2012).
• CilbiotechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPRATECH acquired Cilbiotech's commercial activities and labs in 2012, marking their entry into cell line production for research and development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cytiva (Danaher): Major bioprocess equipment and consumables provider, including bioreactor controllers and cell culture systems. Overlaps with IPRATECH in biopharma process development but serves as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Sartorius: Large incumbent offering bioreactor controllers (e.g., ambr, Biostat) and broader bioprocess solutions. Competes with IPRATECH in bioprocess control but operates at much greater scale and with a wider product portfolio.
• Finesse Solutions (Thermo Fisher Scientific): Originally a direct competitor in smart bioreactor controllers and sensors (now part of Thermo Fisher). Provides comparable process control platforms for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Emerging players

• Solida Biotech: Emerging provider of bioreactor control systems and bioprocess automation, focused on flexible, modular controllers for smaller-scale and R&D applications. Comparable in scale and product philosophy to IPRATECH.
• Aquila Biolabs: Provides small-scale, automated bioprocess sensors and monitoring tools. Adjacent peer in the bioprocess control and instrumentation space targeting R&D and process development labs.
• Sonata Scientific: Emerging developer of acoustic wave-based cell separation and filtration technology for bioprocessing. Comparable emerging peer to IPRATECH's CYTOPERF acoustic filtration line.

Direct peers

• PBS Biotech: Specializes in single-use bioreactors for cell and gene therapy applications. Direct competitor in the cell therapy bioprocess equipment market that IPRATECH targets.
• Applikon Biotechnology (Getinge): Direct peer in bioreactor and cell culture control systems, serving biopharmaceutical manufacturers with process development and production-scale bioreactors. Highly comparable in target customer and product category to IPRATECH's CYTOSYS controllers.
• Eppendorf: Manufactures bioreactor systems (DASbox, DASGIP, BioFlo) and cell culture controllers for bioprocess applications. Direct competitor in the bioreactor controller category, particularly for R&D and process development labs.
• FloDesign Sonics: Develops acoustic cell processing technology for bioprocessing applications including cell separation and clarification. Direct competitor to IPRATECH's CYTOPERF in the acoustic filtration category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipratech-sa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 IPRATECH