HIBERGENE DIAGNOSTICS LIMITED

Their core work

HiberGene Diagnostics is an Irish diagnostics SME specialising in rapid molecular testing for infectious diseases, built around LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) technology. Their core capability is translating LAMP chemistry into deployable diagnostic tests that work faster and with simpler equipment than traditional PCR-based approaches. They have taken products from early feasibility (€50k SME Phase 1 in 2016) through to full development and clinical validation (€644k in 2020-2021), demonstrating a genuine product-development track record rather than pure research activity. Their most visible output is a validated rapid molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV19), developed during the pandemic under EU funding.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

HiberGene's trajectory is short but clearly directional. Their 2016 SME Phase 1 grant covered the broad concept of real-time LAMP-based diagnostics for human infectious diseases — a feasibility-stage, platform-level effort with no specific pathogen focus. By 2020-2021 their work had sharpened dramatically: a single, urgent target (SARS-CoV-2), a significantly larger budget (€644k vs €50k), and a scope that included full development and clinical validation rather than just proof of concept. The shift from platform exploration to pathogen-specific rapid test delivery mirrors a company that moved from R&D mode into a commercialisation-oriented mindset, accelerated by the pandemic opportunity.

HiberGene is on a path from LAMP platform developer toward a commercial rapid-diagnostics product company — a strong fit for consortia targeting point-of-care infectious disease detection, pandemic preparedness, or decentralised testing infrastructure.

How they like to work

HiberGene consistently takes the coordinator role — they led both of their H2020 projects, suggesting they are comfortable driving project direction and taking on administrative and scientific leadership responsibilities. Their consortia are very small (3 unique partners across 2 projects), which is typical of SME-phase grants where the company is the primary driver and academic or clinical partners play supporting roles. This points to a company that prefers to remain in control of the technology agenda rather than acting as a junior partner in larger consortia.

HiberGene has a minimal but functional collaboration network — 3 unique partners across 3 countries, consistent with lean SME-led consortia where one or two academic or clinical validation partners complement the company's core technology work. Their network is small enough that they likely bring established clinical or regulatory contacts rather than broad academic relationships.

What sets them apart

HiberGene occupies a specific and defensible niche: they are one of a small number of European SMEs with demonstrated capability in taking LAMP-based diagnostics from concept through to validated rapid test products, with EU-funded proof points on both ends of that journey. Unlike university spin-outs still in discovery phase, they have operated as the coordinating entity in product-development projects, which means they understand regulatory timelines, clinical validation requirements, and commercialisation pressures. For a consortium needing a molecular diagnostics technology partner who can also take project lead responsibility, they are a credible and practical choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HG nCoV19 test
  The largest funded project in their portfolio (€643,796), it delivered a full development and validation cycle for a SARS-CoV-2 rapid molecular test — a commercially significant outcome developed under time pressure during the pandemic.
• HG
  Their first EU project (2016) established the LAMP platform concept for infectious disease diagnostics, serving as the foundational feasibility step that preceded their larger COVID-19 test development effort.