Danish startup raises €1.6 million to transform life science imaging

Copenhagen-based startup Clair Scientific has raised €1.6 million (12 million kroner) from EIFO and Innovestor to advance its novel microscope technology. Clair Scientific’s ‘Z1’ microscope is designed to make advanced imaging more accessible. Unlike traditional models, the Z1 is both smaller and less expensive, incorporating a unique combination of imaging technology and cloud computing. With this funding, the company aims to expand its team and ramp up production to serve research groups and smaller life science companies in Denmark and the Øresund region, with future plans for Europe and the U.S.

Clair Scientific develops imaging technology with the goal of making research tools more accessible to the life sciences field. Established by founders Hugh Simons and Anders Clemen Jakobsen as a spinout from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the company focuses on creating a microscope, the Z1, that integrates imaging technology with cloud-based data processing.

The Z1 is designed to be more compact and affordable than standard lab equipment, aiming to address budget constraints faced by smaller research groups, biotech companies, and academic labs. Through this approach, Clair Scientific hopes to broaden access to essential research tools, supporting scientists who rely on accurate, cost-effective imaging solutions for their work.

“We invest strategically to support the commercialization of research and in companies that increase access to data in the life science sector,” says Christian Anker Ladefoged, Senior Investment Associate, EIFO. “We see a great potential in Clair Scientific’s innovative product and strong business model, which is based on advanced software that can digitize data through a new microscope design where software and hardware merge. With the investment, the company can now accelerate commercialization, and we look forward to following their growth journey.”

The Z1, significantly smaller and more affordable than traditional microscopes, is designed for research groups and smaller life science firms that have been constrained by the high costs of advanced laboratory equipment. Using a patented combination of imaging technology and cloud computing, the Z1 integrates hardware and software to enable real-time data processing and accessibility.

This new funding will allow Clair Scientific to expand its technical and commercial teams, finalize development, and accelerate production as it prepares to launch in Denmark and the Øresund region.

“For us, this investment means we can set ourselves up with a unique position in the market; to significantly expand our technical and commercial teams, to make our product even better for life science research and, of course, to continue innovating new technologies and products that can be as accessible as possible,” says Hugh.

Earlier this year, Clair Scientific gained recognition by winning the Danish Tech Challenge, an award from the Danish Industry Foundation aimed at supporting hardware-intensive technology startups. The startup’s goal is to lower barriers to technology in life sciences, providing tools that allow researchers more flexibility in conducting critical work.

With the backing from EIFO and Innovestor, Clair Scientific is well-positioned to make its mark in the life science sector, where the need for accessible and affordable imaging solutions is growing.

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