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Technology · Synbio & enabling tech / Bioinformatics & omics

Proteomics (mass-spec CRO)

Mass-spectrometry proteomics as a contract research service — deep DIA proteome profiling, targeted MRM/PRM and affinity proteomics for biomarker discovery and pharmacoproteomics.

Risk: medium Pharma & biologicsResearch tools & R&D services US · CN · EU Science: why it works →Forums and policy: 2 verified 2026-06-30 · 6 Sources (0 independent)

1 · What it gives

Proteomics as a service outsources large-scale protein identification and quantification to specialized contract research organizations (CROs), using LC-MS/MS and affinity assays to drive biomarker discovery, pharmacoproteomics and drug-target deconvolution. Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA) now profiles thousands of proteins per sample with high reproducibility and no missing values, making deep proteome maps a routine B2B deliverable. The stack runs from sample preparation (SP3, iST, S-Trap digestion) through nano-LC separation (Evosep One) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Orbitrap Astral, timsTOF) to bioinformatics (DIA-NN, Spectronaut, MaxQuant against UniProt) and statistically validated reporting. Clinical-grade labs operate under CLIA/CAP accreditation (US), ISO 17025, and EU GDPR for patient data. The six organizations in this projection span DIA software and service (Biognosys), CRO capacity (Evotec, WuXi AppTec), affinity proteomics (Olink, Somalogic) and sample preparation (ProtiFi).

Key directions of proteomics as a service:

  1. DIA deep proteome profiling: thousands of proteins per sample with high reproducibility and no missing values (Spectronaut, DIA-NN).
  2. Affinity proteomics at scale: PEA (Olink) and aptamer (SomaScan) platforms for high-plex plasma profiling without mass spectrometry.
  3. Pharmacoproteomics and target deconvolution: LiP-MS and host-cell- protein analysis for drug mechanism-of-action studies.
  4. High-throughput sample preparation: S-Trap and Evosep One standardization to drive down run-to-run variability.

Sectoral value chain#

[sample prep] ──> [desalting] ──> [LC separation] ──> [MS acquisition]
                                                          │
                                                (bioinformatics)
                                                          │
                                                          ▼
[B2B report] <─── [statistics] <─────┘

Value chain levels#

LevelDescriptionKey inputs/outputs
Sample Preparationlysis, reduction/alkylation, trypsin digestionIn: plasma, tissue. Out: peptides.
Desalting & FractionationC18 StageTip cleanupIn: peptides. Out: clean peptide mix.
LC Separationnano-LC / Evosep One gradientIn: peptide mix. Out: separated peptides.
MS AcquisitionOrbitrap Astral / timsTOF, DIA or DDAIn: peptides. Out: raw spectra.
BioinformaticsDIA-NN / Spectronaut / MaxQuant vs UniProt, FDR <1%In: spectra. Out: protein quantification.
Statistics & Reportingvolcano plots, KEGG/Reactome, B2B reportIn: quantification. Out: differential report.

Cross-cutting technologies of the sector:

  • mass-spectrometry: high-resolution LC-MS/MS (Orbitrap Astral, timsTOF) with DIA acquisition.
  • dia-proteomics: library-free DIA with neural-net deconvolution (DIA-NN, Spectronaut).
  • affinity-proteomics: PEA and aptamer platforms for high-plex plasma proteomics.

2 · What it replaces 0 · matched by industry

No graded substitution linked yet.

3 · How to implement 6 steps

  1. 1
    Sample preparationFormulation & blending
    Plasma or tissue samples are received and checked for haemolysis, then lysed in a denaturing buffer to solubilize the full protein content.
    Who can do this step matched automatically
    Advanced Enzyme Technologies (NSE) India
    ✓ GMP 500 m3
    “This is a satellite blending, mixing and formulation facility, located at Vashind near Shahapur and dedicated to the company’s Animal Nutrition business.”
    SyAqua Group Thailand
    “vannamei genetics (broodstock, nauplii, and post-larvae) built on genomic selection/marker-assisted selection plus quantitative genetics (BLUP), with disease resistance screening …”
  2. 2
    DigestionBiogas, compost & waste valorisation
    Disulfide bonds are reduced and alkylated, and sequencing-grade trypsin digests proteins into peptides of optimal length and charge for mass spectrometry.
    Who can do this step matched automatically
    China Everbright Environment Group China
    163,050 tonnes
    “China Everbright Environment Group Limited (257.HK) is a flagship China Everbright Group industrial company focused on solid waste (waste-to-energy and synergistic treatment), …”
    CRUST Group Singapore
    50,000L
    “Through our B2B Valorisation as a Service (VaaS) model and our proprietary brands, CRUST and CROP, we aim to collaborate with F&B chains, retailers, and hospitality partners to …”
    Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) Taiwan
    500,000 tons pilot scale
    “It refines sugar (including refined white sugar, golden brown sugar, fine granulated sugar and invert sugar syrup), produces bio-based chemicals/biotech outputs (alcohol, …”
    RWDC Industries Singapore
    industrial scale
    “Benefits: 100% biodegradable in natural environments without needing commercial composting facilities; maintains the functional benefits of conventional plastics.”
  3. 3
    Desalting
    Peptides are cleaned on C18 StageTips to remove salts and buffers that would otherwise suppress ionization, then dried and reconstituted in loading solvent.
  4. 4
    LC-MS/MS acquisition
    Peptides are separated by nano-LC and measured in DIA mode on a high-resolution Orbitrap or timsTOF instrument, with periodic QC injections to monitor retention-time and signal stability.
  5. 5
    BioinformaticsData, software & automation
    Raw spectra are processed in DIA-NN or Spectronaut against the UniProt FASTA database, identifying and quantifying proteins at a false-discovery rate below 1%.
    Who can do this step matched automatically
    PBS Biotech United States
    ✓ GMP industrial scale
    “PBS-3 Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor Software 3.0 (21 CFR Part 11 cGMP Upgrade)”
    Stellapps India
    240,000 liters/day
    “It leverages advanced analytics and artificial intelligence through its full-stack IoT platform to enable dairy ecosystem partnerships with financial & insurance institutions, …”
    N.Thing South Korea
    industrial scale
    “Established in January 2014, N.THING is a Seoul-based Agri-Food tech company leading innovation in agricultural products, by extension, in the farm-to-table food value chain by …”
    China Everbright Environment Group China
    163,050 tonnes
    “As the fundamental component of 5G deployment, optic fibre is critical to making Hong Kong a smart city and laying the groundwork for IoT.”
  6. 6
    Statistics and reporting
    Differential expression is computed (volcano plots, ANOVA), enriched pathways are mapped (KEGG, Reactome), and a validated B2B report is delivered to the client’s LIMS portal.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

BRAIN BiotechGermanyProduceractive
Turion LabsSingaporeResearch / RTOactive
SyncoZymes (Shanghai)ChinaProduceractive
N.ThingSouth KoreaResearch / RTOactive
MGI (BGI Group)ChinaProduceractive

In the services and supply catalogue 2 · paid service

Analytical & testing services · Process modelling & simulation

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

Company / InstituteCountryKey products / platformsTech featuresStatus 2026
Biognosys🇨🇭 SwitzerlandSpectronaut, TrueDiscoveryDIA gold-standard software, timsTOFcommercial
Evotec🇩🇪 GermanyHigh-throughput proteomics CROOrbitrap Astral, target deconvolutioncommercial
WuXi AppTec🇨🇳 ChinaBiomarker proteomics CROOrbitrap Eclipse + Q-TOF (SSE 603259)commercial
Olink Proteomics🇸🇪 SwedenPEA panels (Signature Q100)proximity extension assay, NGS readoutcommercial
Somalogic🇺🇸 United StatesSomaScan Select 4Kaptamer affinity, ~4,000 proteinscommercial
ProtiFi🇺🇸 United StatesS-Trap sample prepstandardized digestion, low CVcommercial

5 · Rules & route to market

United States

The United States leads affinity-proteomics platforms and clinical-accredited CRO services tightly integrated into drug-development pipelines.

affinity platforms, clinical accreditation, sample prep#

  • Somalogic (Standard BioTools): the SomaScan aptamer platform; its SomaScan Select 4K assay quantifies around 4,000 proteins from a small plasma sample.
  • Olink Proteomics (Thermo Fisher): Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) panels read out by qPCR/NGS on the Olink Signature Q100 instrument for high-specificity plasma proteomics.
  • ProtiFi: the S-Trap sample-preparation technology (including 96-well micro plates) that standardizes digestion and lowers run-to-run variability.
  • CLIA/CAP accreditation: US labs delivering diagnostic proteomics must meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and College of American Pathologists standards.
European Union

The European Union leads DIA software, premium pharmacoproteomics CROs and the international standards bodies, under strict GDPR data governance.

DIA software leadership, pharmacoproteomics, GDPR#

  • Biognosys (Schlieren, Switzerland; Bruker): the Spectronaut DIA analysis software (the field’s gold standard; Spectronaut 21 and SpectroMine 6 showcased at ASMS 2026), plus TrueDiscovery deep-proteome services on timsTOF.
  • Evotec (Germany): high-throughput proteomics on the Orbitrap Astral, including quantitative host-cell-protein analysis of antibody therapeutics and target identification.
  • HUPO standards and GDPR: the Human Proteome Organization sets international validation rules, while EU CROs operate multi-omics platforms (spatial transcriptomics plus spatial proteomics) under strict patient-data governance.
China

China treats proteomics as a strategic national discipline and runs the world’s largest capacity build-out for deep proteome mapping.

national centers, cost-competitive CROs, instrument localization#

  • CNPHen (National Center for Precision Medicine, Beijing/Shanghai): large proteome centers running dozens of latest-generation Orbitrap Astral and timsTOF Ultra instruments around the clock.
  • WuXi AppTec (SSE 603259) and BGI Proteomics: offer deep plasma and tissue proteome profiling for biomarker and preclinical studies, making China a cost-competitive global outsourcing hub.
  • Instrument localization: domestic nano-LC systems and custom column sorbents to reduce dependence on imported consumables.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

GrantDEVCOM ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH
Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · United States
Nov 20, 2027
400 days
GrantDOD Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research & Development FY23-FY27 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT for Extramural …
Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · United States
Sep 30, 2027
349 days
GrantFY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)
Air Force Office of Scientific Research · United States
Apr 5, 2027
171 days
GrantAgriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development
National Institute of Food and Agriculture · United States
Dec 31, 2026
76 days
GrantAgriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture · United States
Dec 31, 2026
76 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

The stack combines chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry and neural-network bioinformatics, complemented by affinity proteomics.

  1. Nano-LC and high-resolution MS:
    • Evosep One nano-LC separates peptides on C18 columns, feeding the Orbitrap Astral (high-speed acquisition) or Bruker timsTOF (trapped ion-mobility separations) operating in DIA or DDA mode.
  2. DIA acquisition and bioinformatics:
    • library-free DIA is deconvolved by neural-network software (DIA-NN) and Biognosys’ Spectronaut, with MaxQuant for DDA label-free quantification against UniProt, controlled to a peptide and protein FDR below 1%.
  3. Affinity proteomics:
    • Olink’s PEA (dual-antibody recognition with PCR/NGS readout) and Somalogic’s SomaScan (slow off-rate aptamers) quantify thousands of plasma proteins without mass spectrometry, broadening access to high-plex proteomics.

Where this appears 2 sources

Appears in 2 distinct sources across 2 regions, 2012–2024.

  • policy documents 2

Regions: Global · United States

Distinct sources per year
  1. 2021: 0
  2. 2022: 0
  3. 2023: 0
  4. 2024: 1
  5. 2025: 0
  6. 2026: 0
  7. 2027: 0

Matched themes 1

Proteomics

Themes from forum programmes, policy documents and reports are mapped to technologies automatically and then reviewed; counts are distinct sources, not mentions, and are not a ranking. data sources and method → · Trending, not yet covered →

Sources 6 · 0 independent · 6 producer sites

Producers' own sites 6

  1. Biognosys producer checked 2026-06-11 · link not kept
  2. Evotec producer checked 2026-02-09 · link not kept
  3. Wuxi apptec producer checked 2026-06-30 · link not kept
  4. Olink producer checked 2026-04-29 · link not kept
  5. Somalogic producer checked 2026-02-24 · link not kept
  6. Protifi producer checked 2026-04-14 · link not kept