molluSCAN-eye®

ASTEE and Water Quality Biosurveillance

Ludovic Quinault — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:34:52 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of chemical contaminants are present in our aquatic environments. Heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, micropollutants: their interactions make classical chemical analyses insufficient. That is why biosurveillance is now emerging as a more comprehensive response.

Why Chemical Analyses Are No Longer Enough

Traditional methods evaluate substances one by one. Yet pollutants rarely act alone. Their combined effects, known as “cocktail effects”, escape punctual analyses. Aquatic biosurveillance directly addresses this limitation: it measures real effects on living organisms, from the cellular level to the whole organism.

ASTEE’s Work

ASTEE, the French association of water and waste professionals, has been structuring this field for several years. Through its dedicated working group, it produces reference resources. At its 105th Congress, it notably presented a new interface listing available tools and their field feedback. In parallel, the association organises webcafés and webinars to accelerate the operational adoption of these methods.

Towards Real-Time Monitoring

Bioassays remain punctual by nature. Yet water quality fluctuates continuously. An accidental discharge, diffuse contamination after rainfall: anything can occur between two analyses. Real-time biological monitoring fills this gap. It enables continuous detection of any alteration, without waiting for sampling results.

MolluSCAN-eye, Now Referenced by ASTEE

Our HFNI valvometry technology, built on 20 years of research at CNRS, captures the biological signal of connected bivalves in real time. It therefore detects cocktail effects that remain invisible to conventional methods. Being referenced on ASTEE’s biosurveillance page is a concrete recognition: valvometry now belongs to the serious toolkit for aquatic environment monitoring.

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MolluSCAN-eye Receives the Solar Impulse Foundation Efficient Solution Label

Ludovic Quinault — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:37:35 +0000

We are pleased to announce that molluSCAN-eye has been selected as a recipient of the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label 2026. This prestigious recognition acknowledges years of dedicated work and innovation in support of environmental protection.

What We Do

molluSCAN-eye transforms water quality monitoring by drawing inspiration from what nature has perfected over millions of years: mussels and oysters. These bivalves are true guardians of aquatic ecosystems, continuously filtering their environment. We have simply learned how to listen to them.

Our IoT platform continuously measures the opening and closing activity of their shells. A sudden change in their behavior acts like a smoke detector alarm—except that, in this case, it signals water pollution, even when the contaminant is unknown or occurs irregularly.

By combining nature’s most sensitive indicators with advanced digital technology, we provide a monitoring solution that is affordable, sustainable, and remarkably accurate, supporting both marine biodiversity and the blue economy.

Environmental Benefits

24/7 monitoring with minimal intervention. Each station operates autonomously for several years and automatically sends alerts and dashboard updates to a web portal. Operators can respond immediately without waiting for laboratory results.

Simple and universal. A single device monitors a group of 16 bivalves at high frequency and translates their biological signals into clear indicators—green, yellow, and red—that are easy for anyone to understand and use for day-to-day water quality management.

Early and environmentally friendly biomonitoring. By using living bivalves, molluSCAN-eye detects pollution at an early stage, helps prevent damage to ecosystems, and significantly reduces sampling logistics, chemical waste, and the operational footprint associated with conventional monitoring methods.

Enhanced regulatory compliance. With same-day alerts, operators can anticipate permit violations and service disruptions, improving both regulatory performance and public confidence.

Economic Benefits

More than 80 deployments with major utilities and industrial operators, including partnerships with SUEZ, demonstrate the operational maturity and regulatory relevance of our approach. Choosing molluSCAN-eye means adopting a proven technology rather than taking a risk on an untested solution.

With a total cost of ownership of approximately €60,000 per site over three years, molluSCAN-eye is competitive with—and often less expensive than—traditional laboratory-based monitoring programs when recurring costs, consumables, and sample collection expenses are taken into account.

https://solarimpulse.com/solutions-explorer-fr/molluscan

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Chemistry vs. Biosurveillance: Why continuous monitoring is the future of water quality (Replay B Smart)

Ludovic Quinault — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:02:41 +0000

Receiving the LBP AM Innovation Award in the GreenTech category is a source of pride for the entire molluSCAN-eye team. But beyond recognition, this award validates an urgent paradigm shift that I had the opportunity to explain on the Smart Bourse television programme: we can no longer monitor tomorrow’s water with yesterday’s methods.

This is why the industry is gradually shifting from spot chemical testing to continuous biomonitoring.

The problem with the “class photo”

As I explained to journalist Grégoire Favet, the traditional method of monitoring water quality relies mainly on physical and chemical sampling. It is a precise, standardised method, but it has one major flaw: it is intermittent. Taking a chemical sample is like taking a class photo once a month. You know exactly who is there at that moment. But if pollution occurs the next day, or the following night, it goes “under the radar”. In a context where 40% of the wastewater monitoring market is shifting towards continuous monitoring, this temporary “blindness” becomes an unacceptable industrial and environmental risk.

The solution: real-time film (valvometry)

This is where molluSCAN-eye comes in. We don’t replace chemistry, we make it intelligent. Our technology uses bivalve molluscs (oysters, mussels) as connected sentinels. These animals filter up to 50 litres of water per day. When they detect a disturbance, they react immediately by changing their opening/closing behaviour. Thanks to our High Frequency Non-Invasive Valvometry (HFNI) sensors, we capture these micro-movements 24/7.

Conventional chemistry = A blurry photo every month.

MolluSCAN-eye = Live high-definition footage of what’s happening underwater.

Why are industrial companies like SUEZ adopting this solution?

Biomonitoring is no longer a laboratory tool, it is an operational decision-making aid. During the interview, I mentioned our partnership with SUEZ, which uses our systems to monitor discharges from wastewater treatment plants. For an industrialist or port manager, there are three benefits:

Proactive compliance: Anticipate threshold exceedances before they become regulatory violations (Water Framework Directive).

Targeted savings: Instead of carrying out multiple costly chemical tests blindly, analysis is only triggered when molluscs give the alert (“biologically triggered”).

Image protection: Prove through a trusted biological third party that industrial activity does not impact the receiving environment.

Low-tech but high-data technology

This GreenTech award also recognises the simplicity of our approach. We do not add complex probes that require heavy maintenance. We use living organisms, which have had millions of years of R&D to perfect their sensitivity to water. We simply connect nature to the Cloud. It is this alliance between marine biology and the IoT that now makes it possible to secure port areas, drinking water intakes and aquaculture farms alike.

Want to know more about our deployments?

Find out how we secure ports and industrial areas on our [Our Achievements] page.

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MolluSCAN 2.0 wins the CES Innovation Award 2025 : A breakthrough in water quality monitoring

Team molluSCAN-eye — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 16:52:50 +0000

The innovative MolluSCAN 2.0 technology has been awarded the prestigious CES Innovation Award 2025, marking a significant milestone in the field of environmental monitoring. This recognition highlights the growing importance of bio-inspired solutions in addressing today’s environmental challenges.

A Unique Approach to Biomonitoring

MolluSCAN 2.0 stands out through its ingenious approach of using bivalve mollusks as living sentinels of water quality. The system cleverly combines electronics, mathematics, and biology to provide continuous, real-time monitoring of aquatic environments.

Innovative Technology

The system equips oysters, mussels, and other bivalves with non-invasive sensors that monitor their behavior, including shell valve movements and stress responses. These biological reactions serve as highly sensitive indicators of water pollution, enabling the early detection of contaminants and environmental disturbances.

Applications and Benefits

This groundbreaking technology creates new opportunities across a wide range of sectors:

Industry: Real-time monitoring of discharges and their environmental impact.
Municipalities: More effective management of water quality in urban areas.
Environmental Agencies: Enhanced capability to protect aquatic ecosystems.

One of the key advantages of MolluSCAN 2.0 is its ability to provide continuous 24/7 monitoring, enabling rapid response to pollution events and helping stakeholders take timely corrective action.

A Step Toward a More Sustainable Future

Receiving the CES Innovation Award 2025 underscores the growing recognition of innovative environmental technologies. MolluSCAN 2.0 represents a major step forward in the intelligent and responsive management of water resources, contributing to the preservation of aquatic ecosystems for future generations.

For more information about the award, visit the CES Innovation Awards page:
https://www.ces.tech/innovation-awards/2025/molluscan-20/

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MolluSCAN-eye Makes Waves at GITEX 2024 in Dubai

Team molluSCAN-eye — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:12:20 +0000

In October 2024, MolluSCAN-eye made a significant impact during its participation at GITEX / Expand North Star in Dubai, one of the world’s largest technology events. Our presence at this Middle Eastern innovation hub highlighted the crucial importance of our biosurveillance technology for a region particularly vulnerable to environmental challenges.

A Solution Tailored to Regional Challenges

The Persian Gulf, with its rapidly warming waters, faces major ecological challenges. Our real-time water quality monitoring system, based on the behavior of bivalve mollusks, proves particularly relevant for:

Monitoring offshore oil and gas activities
Controlling wastewater discharges from expanding coastal megacities
Tracking the impact of intensive aquaculture
Preserving fragile coastal ecosystems

Innovative Technology Showcased to Local Stakeholders

During GITEX, we had the opportunity to present our unique solution to regional decision-makers and experts:How the MolluSCAN-eye System Works:

Utilization of bivalve mollusks as bio-sentinels
Non-invasive sensors measuring valve movements
Real-time analysis of mollusk behavior
Early detection of environmental disturbances

Key Advantages for the Region:

Continuous 24/7 monitoring
Rapid detection of pollutants, even at low concentrations
System adapted to extreme climatic conditions
Cost-effective solution compared to traditional chemical analyses

Marked Interest in Sustainable Aquatic Resource Management

Our participation at GITEX generated significant interest among local stakeholders, aware of the urgency to preserve their water resources. Discussions highlighted the potential of MolluSCAN-eye for:

Improving coastal zone management
Optimizing aquaculture practices
Strengthening marine ecosystem protection
Contributing to the region’s sustainable development goals

Promising Prospects for MolluSCAN-eye in the Middle East

MolluSCAN-eye’s presence at GITEX 2024 has opened new collaboration opportunities in the region. Our innovative technology aligns perfectly with the Gulf countries’ vision of balancing economic development and environmental preservation.By offering a precise, reliable biosurveillance solution adapted to local conditions, MolluSCAN-eye positions itself as a partner of choice in addressing the environmental challenges facing the Middle East, thus contributing to a more sustainable future for its precious aquatic resources.

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Lake of Thau

Team molluSCAN-eye — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:14:29 +0000

The SEAVOLUTION project aims to test innovative farming practices to alleviate spring, summer and autumn mortalities linked to pathogens such as herpes virus on spat and pre-grown oysters, and Vibrio aestuarianus on commercial oysters.

The project will study the influence of different rolling and exondation regimes in baskets and on ropes on oyster mortality at critical annual periods. In parallel, the expression of several immune genes from 3 oyster sizes will be studied to analyze the influence of these farming practices on the oyster immune system and the impact of pathogens at critical periods. A mechanized, energy-independent, remote-controlled and automated table, developed and patented by partner MEDITHAU, will be optimized on an existing HUITRES SANCHEZ table before zootechnical testing begins. IFREMER will provide scientific support and monitor pathogens and the immune system. MOLLUSCAN-EYE’s innovative valvometry system will be used to monitor the oysters’ daily activity.

L’article Lake of Thau est apparu en premier sur molluSCAN-eye®.

French Polynesia uses molluSCAN to monitor atolls

Team molluSCAN-eye — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 15:07:38 +0000

The government of French Polynesia uses molluSCAN-eye to monitor the environment in the Takapoto and Takaroa atolls.

November 2023: Our team has set up 4 biomonitoring modules (molluSCAN valvometers) on 2 atolls to monitor and study pearl farming atolls.

They are located at depths of 7m and 15m and continuously measure the health of pearl oysters (mother-of-pearl).

Pearl farming is an important economic activity in French Polynesia. It involves cultivating cultured pearls in Polynesian lagoons, in the black-lipped oyster, also called Pinctada Margaritifera. Tahitian cultured pearls are famous for their unique color and shape. They come in their natural state in an infinite palette of shades.

Pearl farming is the second source of income in French Polynesia, after tourism. The sector, made up of 500 family or semi-industrial farms, employs nearly 1,300 people. It alone represents 70% of local exports.

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Smart City Expo World Congress

Team molluSCAN-eye — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 12:58:45 +0000

Barcelone, novembre 2023

Smart City Expo World Congress is the world’s biggest and most influential event on urban innovation

We were there to show our breakthrough innovation for monitoring water 24/7. Many cities and industries were interested in implementing it

The 2023 edition of the congress was held in Barcelona, Spain, and attracted over 24,000 professionals from more than 800 cities and over 600 international speakers. The congress focused on real implementation, funding, and scalability, combined with inspirational, thought-provoking talks.

L’article Smart City Expo World Congress est apparu en premier sur molluSCAN-eye®.

SUEZ monitors wastewater treatment plant discharges with molluSCAN-eye

Team molluSCAN-eye — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:04:39 +0000

Interview carried out at the french congress of local water management in Rennes.

Aude GARDA, SUEZ environmental engineer in Lyre.

We are in a context where there are more and more substances released into the environment. As a result, we are exposed to a multitude of substances and traditional chemical analysis methods cannot suffice to assess the environmental and health quality of an aquatic environment. Biomonitoring has the advantage of measuring the quality of the environment in an integrative manner. It allows pollution to be identified and action taken. This is a very important issue for water stakeholders, therefore for Suez, but also for our customers, communities or institutions. Biomonitoring is therefore an essential complement to chemical analysis methods which has its place in the monitoring of aquatic environments.

molluSCAN-eye and Suez carry out tests on discharges from freshwater treatment plants. The undeniable advantage of this solution is that it allows both high-frequency, long-term monitoring and this while respecting sentinel animals.

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molluSCAN-eye® wins the Bordeaux Technoports call for projects

Ludovic Quinault — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:53:00 +0000

Award ceremony at the Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux

The prizes were presented to the 3 winners of the « Bordeaux Technoports » call for projects, launched by Bordeaux Technowest and the Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux, on 18 October 2022.

First prize went to Molluscan, which wins 6 months of support from Bordeaux Technowest, plus the Airbus “Coup de cœur” award. This project, initially launched with Aquitaine Science Transfert (SATT Aquitaine), is a biomonitoring solution. “We use living organisms (molluscs) as early-warning sensors for water quality.” Round-the-clock (24/7) monitoring of the animals is a unique innovation that provides in-situ surveillance and generates indicators on the health of the molluscs. A very powerful tool to ensure the protection of rivers and oceans, as well as their biodiversity.

In second place: NetCarbon — a solution to measure, improve and enhance carbon storage.

In third place: Gecco — collection and recovery of food waste.

New opportunities

A great source of pride for Jean-Charles Massabuau and Ludovic Quinault, the two co-founders of the startup molluSCAN-eye®. “It is an opportunity to work with the economic fabric of the Port of Bordeaux and to develop synergies with local industrial projects, as well as with the other startups that will be hosted on the site.”

More than 20 different projects had been presented. Bordeaux Technowest and the Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux, the two organizers of this competition, gathered their jury over the summer to select the three winners. The jury was made up of their representatives, but also of their partners: Bordeaux Métropole, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Airbus, Dassault and Aerospace Valley.

Since 2004, Bordeaux Technowest has supported 250 start-ups. The incubator selects projects across seven fields: aerospace-space-defense, eco-activities and industrial ecology, smart city / mobility / urban ecology, smart buildings, connected commerce, energy, and finally winetech / foodtech.

The Port of Bordeaux is committed to a strategic plan aimed at shaping the future of its river, maritime and port activities, as well as its land reserves, in a context of energy transition. « I am very happy to welcome these first three winners today, working in very different fields, who will soon be joined by other startups. The port really wants to develop this site together with Bordeaux Technowest, » said Jean-Frédéric Laurent, Managing Director of the GPMB.

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