iMICROQ

iMICROQ, officially known as Integrated Microsystems for Quality of Life, S.L., was a technology company specializing in the agri-food safety sector. Founded in April 2010 in Tarragona, Spain, it originated as a spin-off from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. The founding team was a blend of academic and business expertise, including three researchers from the Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC) and two members with experience in project management and business development. The company was led by CEO Carlos Arias, a chemical engineer with a Master's in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology.

The firm's core business was the research, development, and manufacturing of low-cost, easy-to-use integrated microsystems for the rapid detection of pathogens, toxins, DNA, and proteins. Its primary market included the poultry industry, slaughterhouses, food processors, and quality control laboratories, addressing critical needs in food safety and animal health. The business model centered on selling diagnostic kits and related equipment, as well as offering OEM & ODM services. The company developed a proprietary technology platform based on screen-printed electrochemical biosensors. This technology formed the basis of its flagship product line, QFast, which included a kit for the rapid detection of Salmonella (QFast Salmonella). This kit could deliver results on-site in under 24 hours, a significant improvement over traditional lab methods that could take 2 to 5 days.

The product portfolio extended to items like the gen-QFast L.Mono for Listeria monocytogenes detection, the in-QFast MBI Incubator, and custom-built electrochemical readers. iMICROQ also engaged in numerous R&D projects, sometimes in collaboration with European programs like Horizon 2020, to create advanced diagnostic solutions. A significant project involved developing an automated device to simultaneously detect pathogens, DNA, viruses, allergens, and mycotoxins from a single sample. Throughout its operation, iMICROQ secured several rounds of funding from investors including Caixa Capital Risc, a group of business angels, and later, the SUEZ Group. The company gained recognition through various awards, such as the Emprenedor XXI Award in 2012. Despite its developments and funding, public records indicate the company ceased operations around December 2020.

Keywords: pathogen detection, food safety diagnostics, Salmonella testing, screen-printed biosensors, electrochemical sensors, agri-food technology, animal health diagnostics, rapid detection kits, microbiological testing, quality control laboratory tools, Universitat Rovira i Virgili spin-off, Carlos Arias, QFast platform, immunoassay development, DNA detection, mycotoxin analysis, food allergen testing, OEM diagnostic manufacturing, environmental sample analysis, clinical diagnosis technology