BIOLAN MICROBIOSENSORES SL

Their core work

Biolan develops electrochemical biosensors for rapid food safety testing — portable devices that detect contaminants like SO2, histamine, nitrites, and proteases directly at production or inspection sites. Their core technology combines enzyme engineering with screen-printed electrodes to create affordable, field-deployable diagnostic tools. They also contribute biosensor expertise to broader platforms including printed electronics on paper substrates and aquaculture monitoring applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014–2018, Biolan established its core technology through SO2 biosensors for food safety (SO2SAFE phases 1 and 2) and began exploring new form factors via printed electronics on paper substrates (INNPAPER). From 2019 onward, they diversified the analytes they can detect — moving into histamine (BIOIMPROVE), nitrites (SOON), and proteases in milk (EPROMILK) — while deepening their protein engineering capabilities. They also expanded into aquaculture applications (AquaVitae), signaling interest in applying their biosensor platform beyond traditional food processing.

Biolan is systematically expanding the range of food contaminants their platform can detect while moving toward protein-engineered recognition elements, positioning them as a one-stop biosensor provider for the food industry.

How they like to work

Biolan overwhelmingly leads its projects — coordinating 6 out of 8, a remarkably high ratio for an SME. Their coordinator projects tend to be smaller, focused efforts (MSCA fellowships and SME Instrument), suggesting they use EU funding strategically to develop specific product lines in-house. When they join as participant (INNPAPER, AquaVitae), it is in larger consortia where they contribute specialized biosensor components to broader platforms.

Despite being a small company, Biolan has built a broad European network of 54 unique partners across 18 countries, largely through their participation in two larger RIA/CSA consortia. Their network spans both academic partners (via MSCA fellowships) and industrial/marine research partners.

What sets them apart

Biolan is one of very few European SMEs that both develops and commercializes electrochemical biosensors specifically for food safety — most biosensor companies focus on clinical diagnostics. Their repeated use of MSCA fellowships to attract researchers shows a deliberate strategy of building in-house R&D capacity through EU talent programs. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: a commercially-minded SME with deep enzymatic biosensor know-how and a proven track record of leading EU projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SO2SAFE
  Their flagship product line — progressed from SME Instrument Phase 1 feasibility (€50K) to Phase 2 development (€744K), their largest single grant, demonstrating strong commercialization trajectory.
• BIOIMPROVE
  MSCA fellowship focused on protein engineering to improve biosensor performance — represents their investment in fundamental science to strengthen their technology platform.
• EPROMILK
  Most recent project applying their biosensor platform to milk safety using advanced electrochemical techniques (faradaic impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry), showing continued technical sophistication.