ALTRATECH LIMITED

Their core work

Altratech is an Irish diagnostics SME that develops rapid, portable testing platforms based on biosensor and lab-on-a-chip technology. Their core product line centers on fast on-site DNA and pathogen detection — originally for food safety, then expanding into viral diagnostics. They bring expertise in miniaturized sensor systems and microfluidic device design, positioning themselves at the intersection of biotechnology and micro-manufacturing.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Altratech began with a focused SME Phase 1 feasibility study for rapid DNA testing in the food sector (BeadCAP-DNA, 2014). By 2017-2018, they had secured substantial SME Phase 2 funding for EASIVIRAL and joined M3DLoC as a participant, indicating a shift from food-safety diagnostics toward broader viral detection and advanced microfluidic manufacturing. The trajectory shows a company scaling from a single-application prototype toward a platform technology with multiple diagnostic applications.

Altratech is moving from single-analyte food tests toward a versatile diagnostic platform combining lab-on-a-chip with 3D-printed microfluidics, making them increasingly relevant for point-of-care and field-deployable testing applications.

How they like to work

Altratech primarily leads its own projects — coordinating 2 out of 3 H2020 projects, both through the SME Instrument, which reflects a company driving its own product development agenda. Their participation in M3DLoC (a larger Innovation Action) shows willingness to join broader consortia when the technology aligns. With 18 unique partners across 9 countries, they maintain a diverse European network despite being a small company.

Altratech has built a network of 18 partners across 9 countries, unusually broad for an SME with only 3 projects. This spread likely reflects their M3DLoC consortium participation combined with SME Instrument mentoring networks.

What sets them apart

Altratech sits at a rare intersection: they understand both the biology of rapid diagnostics and the engineering of miniaturized detection platforms. Their progression through SME Phase 1 and Phase 2 — plus participation in an advanced manufacturing project — suggests a company that has moved from concept to scalable product. For consortium builders, they offer a tested SME partner that can both lead its own workstream and contribute specialized diagnostic hardware to larger efforts.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EASIVIRAL
  Largest project at EUR 2.97M (SME Phase 2), indicating the EU's strong confidence in Altratech's viral diagnostics technology reaching market.
• M3DLoC
  Cross-disciplinary Innovation Action combining 3D printing with microfluidic MEMS — connects Altratech to advanced manufacturing capabilities beyond pure diagnostics.
• BeadCAP-DNA
  The origin project: a 30-minute on-site DNA test kit for food safety that launched Altratech's H2020 trajectory.