R&D Projects

PID · IDE/2025/000407 · BioGuard

Grants for the execution of R&D projects in the Principality of Asturias (PID) – IDE/2025/000407 – Development of new tools for the molecular detection of biofilms in the agri-food industry (BioGuard)

BioGuard addresses a critical challenge for food safety: the detection of bacterial biofilms — communities of microorganisms that show high resistance to conventional cleaning and disinfection methods. Current methods for detecting these pathogens are slow, costly and require specialised personnel.

The project develops new molecular detection technologies of high sensitivity and specificity to identify pathogenic biofilm-forming bacteria. These advances will enable the agri-food industry to significantly strengthen its quality control and hygiene programmes, ensure food safety and prevent food-borne disease outbreaks. The knowledge generated will also provide valuable information for implementing more effective prevention and control strategies.

Funded by

Project funded by SEKUENS — Agency for Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

EBT Fase I · IDE/2024/000669

Grants for technology-based companies in the Principality of Asturias (EBT Phase I) – IDE/2024/000669 – Development and validation of a biotechnological product for the rapid detection of Listeria in the agri-food industry

The objective of this project was the development of a Listeria detector for the agri-food sector — a highly prevalent and toxic microbiological contaminant — enabling a drastic reduction in analysis time from 48 hours to just 1 hour from sample collection to result. This capability is based on a proprietary enzymatic genetic detection reaction created by Arquea Biological Innovations. Additionally, the project pursued the development of a fully portable device for point-of-control analysis, along with a digital platform featuring automatic decision-making models for complete process digitisation.

The first product developed is a Listeria detector that reduces the detection cycle from 48 hours to just 1 hour from sample collection. This improvement is based on a proprietary enzymatic genetic detection reaction. The system integrates a high-performance genetic analysis methodology, a portable device for point-of-control analysis, and a digital platform with automatic decision models that ensure complete process traceability.

Funded by

Project funded by SEKUENS — Agency for Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

PID · IDE/2024/000585 · PatGenIA

Grants for the execution of R&D projects in the Principality of Asturias (PID) – IDE/2024/000585 – Accelerated development of new agri-food safety surveillance methods through the use of artificial intelligence (PatGenIA)

The objective of this project is to develop new tools for animal health surveillance and agri-food safety in the primary sector.

Building on Arquea's previous developments, a digital framework has been created based on artificial intelligence mathematical models that accelerates the process of designing and validating molecular assays for the rapid detection of pathogenic agents in livestock farms and food products of animal origin.

Pathogenic agents of critical relevance have been selected for validation both at laboratory scale and in real application environments. The successful completion of this project will significantly contribute to improving the competitiveness and resilience of the primary sector at local and national level.

Funded by

Project funded by SEKUENS — Agency for Science, Business Competitiveness and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).