Digifluidic Bio-tech

Digifluidic Bio-tech is a biotechnology firm that emerged from research conducted at the University of Macau. The company was officially established in 2018, following an incubation period that began in 2017 in Hengqin, Zhuhai. The foundational work for the company's core technology started as a project at the University of Macau in 2009, with the first patent application filed in 2013. The founding team includes Dr. Tianlan Chen, who serves as President and General Manager, Dr. Cheng Dong as Vice President, and Tang Xiang as Technical Director. Their journey began as a graduate team project, making Digifluidic the first company founded by graduates of the University of Macau.

The company centers its operations on digital microfluidic technology to create automated nucleic acid analysis systems for in-vitro diagnostics. This technology integrates nucleic acid amplification and analysis onto a single chip, enabling programmed control over reaction solution operations, temperature, and fluorescence detection. The business model involves providing integrated solutions, research collaboration, and ODM/OEM services. Digifluidic serves a diverse clientele across sectors such as medical disease diagnosis, plant and animal disease detection, health indicator testing, import/export inspection and quarantine, and food safety testing. Revenue generation is driven by the sale of its products and customized development services.

Digifluidic's main product is the 'VirusHunter,' a portable and automated point-of-care testing (POCT) system for rapid, on-site nucleic acid detection. This device is designed to be compact, user-friendly, and cost-effective, addressing the limitations of traditional nucleic acid detection which often requires specialized personnel and laboratory settings. The company has achieved significant milestones, including securing over 10 million yuan in an angel funding round in 2020 and nearly 100 million yuan in a Series A financing round in 2022. These financial achievements have supported the development of their second-generation prototype and the establishment of a new research and development base.

Keywords: digital microfluidics, nucleic acid analysis, in-vitro diagnostics, POCT, point-of-care testing, molecular diagnosis, automated testing equipment, DNA detection, medical disease diagnosis, food safety testing, animal disease detection, biotechnology, University of Macau spin-off, lab-on-a-chip, VirusHunter, genetic testing, portable diagnostics, automated diagnostics, ODM/OEM diagnostics, research collaboration biotech