Roche Innovatis

In the 1990s, a team of scientists and IT specialists in Bielefeld, Germany, tackled a fundamental but tedious task in pharmaceutical labs: manually counting cells. They developed a product that would revolutionize this process—the first fully automated cell counting system. This innovation laid the groundwork for Innovatis AG, which was spun out from Bielefeld University in 2002. The company's focus was clear: provide automated solutions for cell analysis, including counting, viability testing, and function analysis for research and bioproduction. Innovatis quickly became a key supplier in the life sciences industry, and one of its major customers was the Swiss healthcare giant, Roche. For years, Roche utilized Innovatis's technology, seeing its value in the rapidly growing field of cellular analytics. This long-standing relationship culminated in a significant event for the German company. In March 2009, Roche announced it would acquire 100% of the privately held Innovatis AG. The acquisition was a strategic move for Roche, aimed at strengthening its position as a comprehensive solution provider in the cell analysis market. The deal, valued at 15 million Euros, was designed to integrate Innovatis's technology with Roche's existing portfolio, particularly complementing its xCELLigence technology launched the previous year. Following the acquisition, Innovatis became a fully integrated part of Roche Applied Science, allowing its technology to reach a global market through Roche's extensive network while continuing development in Bielefeld.