SONAXIS

Their core work

SONAXIS is a French SME based in Besançon that specializes in ultrasonic transducer technology and acoustic components, supplying critical hardware for optoacoustic imaging and sensing systems. In H2020, they contribute precision transducer manufacturing expertise to medical imaging projects — from dermatology scanners to endoscopic probes and portable diagnostic devices. Their role is typically as the component supplier enabling other partners' imaging systems to detect signals from tissue, skin microvasculature, and esophageal structures.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SONAXIS entered H2020 through a nanocomposite manufacturing project (CO-PILOT, 2015), then rapidly pivoted to optoacoustic medical imaging from 2016 onward. Their later projects show increasing specialization — moving from laboratory-scale spectral mesoscopy (INNODERM) toward handheld, portable, and cost-reduced devices (WINTHER, RSENSE, ESOTRAC). The trajectory is clear: from general precision manufacturing toward dedicated biomedical optoacoustic sensing hardware.

SONAXIS is moving toward miniaturized, handheld, and cost-effective optoacoustic transducers for point-of-care medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring — expect them to pursue clinical translation projects next.

How they like to work

SONAXIS consistently joins as a specialist participant, never leading consortia — a pattern typical of component suppliers who bring essential hardware expertise but leave system integration and clinical validation to partners. With 26 unique partners across 10 countries over just 5 projects, they work in medium-to-large consortia and do not appear locked into a single network. This makes them an accessible and experienced partner for new consortia needing acoustic/transducer components.

SONAXIS has collaborated with 26 distinct partners across 10 European countries, suggesting broad reach within the optoacoustic and photonics research community. Their network spans both academic groups developing imaging methods and industrial partners working on device commercialization.

What sets them apart

SONAXIS occupies a rare niche: a specialized SME that manufactures the precision ultrasonic transducers that optoacoustic imaging systems depend on. While many labs and companies develop the optical excitation and software sides, very few European SMEs can supply the custom acoustic detection hardware. For any consortium building an optoacoustic or photoacoustic device — whether for medical diagnostics, environmental sensing, or industrial inspection — SONAXIS brings the physical component expertise that turns a research concept into a working prototype.

Highlights from their portfolio

• WINTHER
  Largest single grant (EUR 470,741) and focused on handheld optoacoustic mesoscopy for therapeutic monitoring — represents their most advanced device miniaturization work
• ESOTRAC
  Endoscopic optoacoustic probe for esophageal cancer detection — demonstrates their ability to manufacture transducers at extremely small form factors for internal body imaging
• RSENSE
  Extends their optoacoustic expertise beyond medical imaging into environmental detection, signaling diversification into new application domains