About rqmicro
An international and interdisciplinary team united by the common goal of accelerating and improving microbiological analysis.
rqmicro (Rapid Quantitative MICRObiology) is a life sciences and tech startup founded in 2013 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich (Switzerland). rqmicro AG is based in Schlieren, Switzerland.
Since then, the company has invested significant resources in developing a unique and proprietary platform for the rapid analysis of bacteria in water.
rqmicro aims to protect consumers worldwide from microbiologically contaminated water. Our first commercial application focuses on the detection of Legionella bacteria, which pose the most relevant threat in drinking water systems.
The ability to monitor the quality and safety of drinking water effectively and economically is a key driver towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Microbiological monitoring of water is also an enabler for achieving energy-efficient housing and water reuse. We are proud to contribute to this objective and help make water safe for everyone.
Where We Make a Difference
More Details
Want to Work With Us?
More Details
Leadership
make water safe
"Our vision is that consumers worldwide benefit from water which is free from microbiological contamination.
We establish novel rapid detection methods to become the global leader in water pathogen monitoring and enable safe water for everyone."
The Founders:
Dr. Hans-Anton Keserue, CEO (pictured left)
Dr. Daniel Schaffhauser, CTO (pictured middle)
Tobias Schaad, COO/CFO (pictured right)
Organization
Sales & Marketing
Includes direct sales, business development, marketing and application support.
Energetic team with backgrounds ranging from microbiology, biochemistry to forensics, and sales experience from 5-30 years.
Life Sciences
Full capabilities for development and validation of microbiology tests. Competences include antibody and nanobody development, bio- informatics, protein purification, dye and magnetic particle conjugation, product formulation lyophilization, sample prep procedures and application support.
Engineering
Hardware and software development team that also manages the external industrialization of the instruments. Competencies include rapid prototyping of optical systems and characterization, design of injection molded disposables, software engineering and design of electronics.
Quality & Regulatory
Our ISO 9001-certified Quality Management System is customer-centric. Current and future customer needs direct our efforts towards achieving customer satisfaction. We dedicate our Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs (QA/RA) efforts towards state-of-the-art quality assurance and advancing the adoption of flow cytometry in our target markets.
Office & Lab Facilities
- Office and lab facilities in the Swiss biotech and startup valley located in Schlieren, next to Zürich, Switzerland
- Fully equipped biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory with research-grade analytical instrumentation and full setup for protein purification
- Rapid prototyping facility for development of analytical instruments
Our Values
Be Passionate
We are passionate about our customers and our company.
We are motivated by ambitious goals that reach beyond what is assumed possible today.
We use our passion to overcome hurdles, persevere in light of uncertainty and create the future together.
Act as Owners
We trust in each other’s capabilities and drive.
We take ownership and responsibility for our projects and tasks.
We understand that as the organization succeeds, we all succeed.
Strive for Excellence
We strive for outstanding results and we expect it from our colleagues.
We welcome an open feedback culture and value the work and ideas of every team member.
We improve every day for our personal development and to achieve our goals.
Where We Make a Difference
Water Utilities
Water utilities face increasing pressure to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant drinking water supply while managing aging infrastructure, variable source water quality, and evolving regulatory expectations. rqmicro enables rapid, quantitative monitoring of microbial contamination across the entire water cycle, providing actionable results within hours instead of days. This allows utilities to detect risks earlier, optimize treatment and distribution processes, and move from reactive incident management to proactive, data-driven water quality control.
Industrial Water
Industrial water systems require consistent microbial control to ensure process stability, protect equipment, and maintain product quality across diverse applications such as process water, cooling systems, washing circuits, and auxiliary utilities. rqmicro enables rapid, quantitative monitoring of microbial load directly within these systems, delivering results within hours rather than days. This allows operators to move from delayed laboratory feedback to real-time, condition-based water management, improving reliability, efficiency, and operational control.
Manufacturing Quality Control
Manufacturing quality control depends on timely and reliable information about microbial contamination across raw materials, utilities, process streams, and production environments. rqmicro enables rapid, quantitative microbial monitoring that delivers actionable results within hours instead of days. This allows quality teams to detect emerging risks earlier, respond faster to deviations, and maintain consistent control over product quality and manufacturing processes.
Want to Work With Us?
rqmicro Careers
We are an international and interdisciplinary young team united by the common goal of
accelerating and improving microbiological analysis.
Working in a small company in a fast-paced environment means benefiting from
flexible structures, transparent communication and real growth opportunities.
