Traditional microscopy remains essential for research, but it is often bulky, expensive and difficult to scale. In this context, XipScope emerges as a new spin-off from the University of Barcelona (UB) aiming to change this paradigm with pocket-sized, autonomous and modular microscopes that capture and analyse images in real time using artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
XipScope microscopes are extremely compact devices that bring microscopy directly to the sample. Instead of concentrating all samples under a single microscope, the company proposes that each sample has its own device, reversing the traditional model and enabling continuous, automated and comparable observation over time, reducing manual workload and minimising human error.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt XipScope, we have replaced traditional optics with a fully electronic architecture inspired by the semiconductor industry. This allows us to drastically reduce the size of the equipment and manufacture it at scale at a much lower cost, making it possible for each sample to have its own microscope,\u201d explains Dr Joan Canals, co-founder of XipScope and professor at the Faculty of Physics of UB.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sergio Moreno, PhD candidate at UB and co-founder of XipScope, adds: \u201cOur devices enable direct observation of biological processes such as the growth of yeast cultures or the development of small cell-based structures. In addition, our system includes an automatic analysis layer that interprets images and data in real time, allowing researchers to obtain more data, more frequently, while spending less working time in the laboratory.\u201d<\/p>\n
XipScope builds on the experience of the European project ChipScope (2017\u20132020), led by UB under Dr \u00c1ngel Di\u00e9guez, which explored a new approach to miniaturising microscopy using micro\/nanoLED light sources integrated on chip. That research demonstrated that, by using microdisplays\u2014high-resolution miniature electronic screens\u2014and scanned micro-illumination strategies, it is possible to build highly compact and affordable microscopes. This knowledge is the seed that is now being transferred to the market in a practical and robust way.<\/p>\n
XipScope\u2019s solution is particularly useful for monitoring cultures and dynamic processes: from cell aggregates and yeast colonies to tissue-scale models (such as angiogenesis), where it is important to observe how structures change over time. In emerging fields such as organ-on-a-chip technology, obtaining frequent and comparable measurements is essential to advance pharmaceutical research and alternatives to animal testing.<\/p>\n
Beyond biomedicine, XipScope aims to democratise access to microscopy also in the agri-food industry and education, where portability and automation provide added value.<\/p>\n
XipScope is driven by co-founders Sergio Moreno (COO) and Dr Joan Canals (CTO), and has the support of Dr \u00c1ngel Di\u00e9guez (UB) as scientific advisor. The company is led by CEO Mattia Nuti and has a scientific advisory board with expertise in microelectronic systems, microLEDs and high-sensitivity optical sensors, including Dr Juan Daniel Prades, Dr Anna Vil\u00e0 and Dr \u00c1ngel Di\u00e9guez himself.<\/p>\n
The dean of the Faculty of Physics, Dr Eugeni Graug\u00e9s, has highly valued the creation of this new spin-off: \u201cThe launch of XipScope is a paradigmatic example of knowledge transfer, an area that, as a Faculty, we want to support in order to help it grow. The University of Barcelona needs to increase the transfer indicators of its excellent research, and XipScope is an example that this is not only possible, but that it also represents a transformation into real innovation with economic and social impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Graug\u00e9s also stressed that, although knowledge transfer follows its own timelines, different from those of research excellence, \u201cfrom our faculty we want to continue promoting the recognition of projects like this so that, within the University of Barcelona, this highly important academic activity can be valued with its own specific dimension, one that should position us as a benchmark in knowledge transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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