Our story
It all started with a simple idea: “How can we help manufacturers who have questions about mold?”
This idea was born in the minds of Catalina Hernandez and Sébastien Vacher at the end of their studies. To make their project a reality, they drew on the expertise of Claude Bernard University in Lyon.
Our profession
At the heart of our laboratory, we innovate to define new standards for detecting microorganisms in the environment (plants, air, water, etc.).
Initially specialists in molds, we have expanded our range of services over the years by working on bacteria, algae, and certain viruses.
We provide guidance and support in various environments using increasingly innovative tools, ranging from culture-based methods to molecular biology and AI technologies.
Over time…
2002 - 2006 : From idea to company creation
2002 – Incubation with Ezus and Créalys
After completing his PhD in 2002, Sébastien Vacher co-founded Conidia with Catalina Hernandez. The project was supported by Claude Bernard University through the Ezus structure and followed by Créalys (now Pulsalys), the business incubator of the Lyon region.
2005 – Company Registration
On April 5, 2002, Conidia was officially established. Our first services were dedicated to the agri-food sector, conducting on-site audits to understand contamination issues, such as those affecting cheese. We also collaborated with construction material manufacturers to validate the resistance of their products to mold growth.
2006 – Our First Premises at UCBL
After several years in the incubation phase, using part of a university laboratory’s facilities, Conidia rented its own workspace. This testing room allowed us to launch experiments that met our clients’ standards and requirements.
2008-2010 : Our early years
2008 – Winner of the Novad’or Award (Innovative Business Prize) from the Chamber of Commerce
The 2000s saw the emergence of new molecular biology methods for analysis and identification. Conidia developed a reliable method for identifying molds using DNA, while maintaining visual observation as a control. We also created an in-house method to test the resistance of materials to mold growth. These innovations earned us the Novad’or award in 2008, granted by the Lyon-Saint-Etienne Chamber of Commerce.
2009 – Launch of the AIR Activity
The air quality market took on a new dimension at Conidia. In addition to agri-food audits, our clients in the materials sector began requesting microbiological air quality assessments at their production sites. Thanks to word of mouth, new markets opened up: archives, public institutions, engineering firms… To improve the visibility of our unique offering, we created the business unit Conidair.
2010 – Launch of the PHYTO Activity
In 2010, a new collaboration began with BASF, allowing us to work on fungal diseases in plants, directly linked to Sébastien Vacher’s doctoral research.
In 2014, after several years of supporting our clients—leaders in plant protection products—in detecting and understanding resistance and mutations in pathogenic plant molds, we founded a new company: Coniphy.
2012 - 2020 : Moving and expansion in Quincieux
2012 – Relocation to Quincieux
To expand our development capabilities, we moved to the north of Lyon, into larger and more functional premises. Thanks to the loyalty of our clients, we now have over 150 m² of laboratory space to meet all microbiology and phytopathology needs.
2015 – Laboratory Expansion
The growth of our phytopathology activity and the desire to clearly separate the workspaces of our two entities led to an expansion of our laboratories, effectively doubling their surface area.
2019–2020 – Greenhouse Construction
To improve our responsiveness, we integrated the production of plants used for phytopathology monitoring. These plants are essential for the growth of certain pathogens.
2018 : ISO 9001 Certification
Obtaining ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that our work is carried out in conditions that respect both our clients and the defined processes. Customer satisfaction is essential to us.
2020 - A new adventure with product sales
2020 – Launch of Our First Product: Id Fungi-Plates
A turning point for Conidia, which now produces a culture medium specifically designed for the growth and identification of molds. We decided to provide our clients with a tool that saves time and ensures more robust processing. This product is CE-IVD marked.
2023 – Commercialization of Early Detection Kits for Grapevine Powdery Mildew
To make our innovations in early detection of grapevine powdery mildew accessible to a wider audience, we developed a ready-to-use kit for companies or cooperatives equipped with a molecular biology laboratory. The kit can be sold worldwide, thereby reducing the risk of pathogen spread through transport.
2022 - Integration into the Tentamus Group
The integration of our two companies into the Tentamus Group, following the merger of Conidia and Coniphy, allows us to collaborate with more than 90 laboratories around the world, all on a human scale. This synergy of expertise enables us to offer our clients enhanced service solutions.
2024 - Innovation at the heart of our DNA
2020 – Research on COVID-19
To meet our clients’ needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a molecular biology method to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 in air, surfaces, and wastewater, as well as to identify different variants and determine their proportions within complex mixtures.
2024 – Integration of Long-Read Sequencing in Molecular Biology
Always at the forefront of innovation, in 2024 we integrated the latest molecular biology technologies to provide our clients with highly accurate results and in-depth interpretation of field data.
A scientific team at your service
Our team, made up of about 15 employees with various profiles, is dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers.
Doctors
Engineers
Technicians
The Tentamus Group
The Tentamus Group is an international laboratory company specialising in safety and quality services for various sectors. Founded in 2011, the company has more than 90 laboratories and affiliated companies around the world.
Tentamus Group laboratories offer a full range of testing, consulting and labeling assistance services for the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, agricultural and environmental industries. They carry out chemical, physico-chemical, microbiological and mechanical tests to guarantee the safety and quality of the products.
Let's work together !
If you have any needs or questions about environmental microbiology, contact us and we'll provide you with the answers you need.