A new cell-bioproduction platform: a body-like, animal-free, customisable 3D biomaterial + AI digital twin , for any cell type

Who we are
OctoCells is a French deep-tech biotech spun out of CNRS / INSERM / CHU Rouen research. We have developed a new approach to cell bioproduction, combining two proprietary technologies:

• CellSpace HA™ a body-like, 100% animal-free, customisable 3D hyaluronic-acid scaffold/microcarrier. A drop-in scaffold that recreates a physiological 3D environment, works across any cell type (adherent or suspension), and runs the same protocol from T25 flask to multi-litre bioreactor.

• OctoSim™ an AI digital twin of the bioreactor, co-developed with Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience Lab, that predicts yield before harvest and cuts physical scale-up experiments.

Why it matters
The platform is not tied to a single product it is an infrastructure layer that makes cell-based production cheaper, more reproducible and more sustainable, regardless of what is being produced.

• Universal : validated on antibodies, extracellular vesicles, lentiviral vectors (LVV), and stem-cell models.

• Animal-free : the scaffold is 100% animal-free, and we have validated animal-free, serum-free production (e.g. for lentiviral vector manufacturing).

• Long-term stable : maintains active, productive culture over extended periods (tested in culture for up to 5 months).

• Independently validated: (CNRS · INSERM · CHU Rouen): ≥12× monoclonal-antibody yield vs 2D, −80% cost per unit, −83% nutrient consumption, +54% extracellular-vesicle yield.

The collaboration we propose
Bring us your hardest-to-produce cell product we help you make more of it, more reproducibly, at lower cost and footprint. This is a 24–36 month collaborative R&D project: we bring the bioproduction platform; the partner brings a specific cell type, biologic or therapeutic candidate to produce on it. We jointly demonstrate the gains yield and cost first, then product quality and reproducibility on the partner's target.

A flagship example: extracellular vesicles (EVs), where manufacturing, batch-to-batch consistency, scalable yield, characterisation, is the key bottleneck our 3D platform directly addresses. The same applies to antibodies, viral vectors, cell therapies, proteins and cultivated biomass.

Scope is industrial research + experimental development only.

What we bring

• The CellSpace HA™ 3D biomaterial and the OctoSim™ AI digital twin a validated, ready-to-transfer bioproduction platform.

• Strong, active collaboration with CHU de Rouen (Rouen University Hospital) and with CNRS & INSERM laboratories independent validation, access to academic and clinical research infrastructure, and scientific depth.

• Co-development partnership with Dassault Systèmes 3DExperience Lab on the digital-twin layer.

• Validated proof-of-concept data across multiple modalities.

The partner we're looking for (any of):

• A biomanufacturer, CDMO or biotech with a cell line, biologic or therapeutic candidate (EVs, antibodies, viral vectors, cell therapies, proteins) seeking yield, cost, reproducibility or footprint gains and ready to actively contribute to the project.

• An academic / RTO group able to co-validate production and product quality.

• A digital / bioinformatics partner to strengthen the modelling layer.