Belfast-based sci-tech company Bia Analytical is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, marking five years of rapid growth, data modelling innovation, and impact in the fight against global food fraud.
Launched in 2020 as a spin-out from Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security, Bia Analytical has become a leading name in food authenticity testing, developing AI-powered chemometric models and portable testing solutions that help protect food supply chains from economically motivated adulteration.
At the heart of the company’s success is its deep foundation in spectroscopy and data science, as well as strong ties to Northern Ireland’s innovation ecosystem. The company was co-founded by Professor Chris Elliott, a globally recognised expert in food integrity, whose work following the 2013 horsemeat scandal helped shine a light on vulnerabilities in international supply chains.
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“Food fraud is a global issue with significant health, economic, and reputational risks,” said Professor Elliott. “The goal with Bia Analytical was to create a company that could translate world-class research into practical solutions, and we’ve achieved that.”
A science-led approach to a global problem
Bia Analytical uses near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometric modelling to detect subtle differences in the chemical makeup of food, and non-food commodities. This enables businesses to verify the authenticity of high-risk commodities like herbs and spices, coffee, cocoa, meat and plastic quickly and non-destructively.
From its lab-based services launched in 2020, to the portable, in-field testing devices introduced in 2024, and the upcoming launch of a cloud-based results portal in 2025, the company is focused on building scalable, user-friendly technology for quality control and compliance which addresses not only adulteration or mislabelling in the supply chain, but can provide a high-level of digitised quality control to ensure consistency in product specifications and formulations a such as with blends, mixes or curing powders.
Chief Scientific Officer Dr Terry McGrath, one of the company’s founders, said: “We’ve grown from a lab bench at Queen’s to working with food manufacturers and suppliers across the world. Our clients rely on us not just for testing, but to help strengthen their entire supply chain integrity strategy.”
Queen’s spin-outs driving innovation in Northern Ireland
Bia Analytical is part of a wider wave of science and technology companies emerging from Queen’s University’s research base. The university has a strong track record in creating high-impact spin-outs that commercialise innovation in sectors ranging from cyber security and diagnostics to agri-tech and AI.
“Our academic origins give us a level of scientific credibility and rigour that’s been key to building industry trust,” added McGrath. “And the ecosystem in Northern Ireland, particularly the support from QUBIS, Queens University and Invest NI, has been critical in helping us scale.”
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A bright future for food integrity tech
Looking ahead, Bia Analytical plans to expand its model library, grow its international footprint, and make food fraud detection a seamless part of global supply chains.
“Our fifth birthday is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come,” said CEO Simon Cole, “but it’s also a springboard for the next phase. We’re proud to be building globally significant technology from right here in Belfast.”
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