Clever Culture Systems AG

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia  All Australia companies → — Founded 2013
Medical Device / Hardware Point-of-Care Diagnostics Specialty-Focused AI
Infectious Disease Laboratory Medicine
Lab & Diagnostics Pathology AI
Publicly Traded (ASX: CC5) — Market Cap: $41.6M (as of Apr 10, 2026); TTM Revenue: $3.33M (as of Dec 31, 2025)

Products

APAS Independence with Urine Analysis Module
Clever Culture Systems AG
Lab & Diagnostics
APAS Independence with Urine Analysis Module is an FDA-cleared AI-powered in vitro diagnostic instrument that automates the screening and interpretation of urine culture plates, optimizing microbiology lab workflows and accelerating UTI diagnosis.

See all 1 product →

About Clever Culture Systems AG

Clever Culture Systems AG is a pioneering healthcare AI company specializing in intelligent automation solutions for microbiology laboratories. The company’s flagship product, the APAS® Independence, is an FDA-cleared and CE-marked in vitro diagnostic instrument that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate the imaging, analysis, and interpretation of agar culture plates. This technology is designed by microbiologists for microbiologists, aiming to seamlessly integrate into existing laboratory workflows and address critical challenges such as resource constraints, manual processing bottlenecks, and the need for consistent, accurate results.

For physicians, the APAS Independence offers significant benefits by streamlining the microbiology workflow, particularly in areas like urine cultures, infection control (e.g., MRSA and VRE screening), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. By automatically screening and triaging culture plates, the system can identify negative or non-significant growth plates, allowing microbiologists to focus their expertise on positive and significant growth plates that require more complex analysis. This not only accelerates patient diagnosis and turnaround times but also improves the overall efficiency and quality of results, enhancing data integrity and traceability in both clinical and pharmaceutical microbiology settings.

Focus Areas

AI machine learning microbiology automation automated culture plate reading infectious disease diagnostics environmental monitoring clinical diagnostics

Business Intelligence

Key InvestorsHettich AG (former joint venture partner and current shareholder), LBT Innovations (original developer, now rebranded as Clever Culture Systems)
PartnershipsThermo Fisher Scientific (exclusive US distributor for clinical customers and selected European countries), AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk (pharmaceutical manufacturing customers)
AcquisitionsLBT Innovations Limited acquired the remaining 50% shareholding of the Clever Culture Systems joint venture from Hettich in December 2021. Subsequently, LBT Innovations Limited rebranded and changed its name to Clever Culture Systems.
TechnologyAutomated Plate Assessment System (APAS® Independence), AI and machine learning software, intelligent imaging platform technology, modular automation solutions, cloud-native (implied by data integrity and traceability features)
FDA ClearancesAt least 1 (APAS Independence instrument and associated urine analysis module, cleared as a Class II medical device), with multiple global regulatory clearances (FDA, CE Mark, TGA). cleared products (estimated)

What Physicians Need to Know

AI & Machine Learning in Microbiology
Clever Culture Systems AG specializes in applying advanced Artificial Intelligence and sophisticated machine learning algorithms for the automated reading, interpretation, and reporting of microbial growth on culture plates.
Microbiology Automation
They are a leader in intelligent automation solutions for microbiology laboratories, designed to streamline workflows, reduce manual processes, and maximize laboratory efficiency.
Automated Culture Plate Reading (APASu00ae Independence)
Their flagship product, the APASu00ae Independence, is an automated instrument that performs imaging, analysis, and interpretation of microbial growth on agar culture plates for both clinical and pharmaceutical applications.
Infectious Disease Diagnostics
The APASu00ae Independence includes modules for clinical microbiology, specifically for urine cultures and infection control screening (e.g., MRSA and VRE colonies on chromogenic media).
Environmental Monitoring
Their technology is also crucial for pharmaceutical laboratories, automating environmental monitoring culture plate reading to improve accuracy, traceability, and data integrity in sterile drug manufacturing workflows.
Clinical Diagnostics
With a strong history in clinical microbiology, their APAS technology has achieved global regulatory clearances in the US (FDA), Europe (CE Mark), and Australia (TGA), supported by over 25 scientific publications.
Physician Tip

For physicians, Clever Culture Systems AG's technology, particularly the APASu00ae Independence, offers significant advantages by accelerating the diagnostic process. The automated plate reading and interpretation capabilities lead to faster turnaround times for microbiology results, enabling quicker patient isolation and initiation of appropriate treatment for infectious diseases. The AI-driven analysis enhances accuracy and consistency, reducing the variability associated with manual plate reading and providing more reliable diagnostic information. This improved efficiency allows microbiologists to focus their expertise on complex, significant cases, ultimately contributing to better patient outcomes and more effective infection control strategies.

The APASu00ae Independence is designed for seamless integration into existing laboratory workflows. It offers full integration with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) for real-time reporting and contemporaneous data capture. The system is compatible with various culture media, including split plates, and does not require proprietary media, minimizing disruption and avoiding the need for extensive laboratory remodeling.

Products by Clever Culture Systems AG

1 product in the directory

APAS Independence with Urine Analysis Module
Clever Culture Systems AG
Lab & Diagnostics
APAS Independence with Urine Analysis Module is an FDA-cleared AI-powered in vitro diagnostic instrument that automates the screening and interpretation of urine culture plates, optimizing microbiology lab workflows and accelerating UTI diagnosis.

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Press & Coverage

GlobalData
Clever Culture Systems AG Pipeline Insight and Competitive Landscape, 2023 - GlobalData
Clever Culture Systems AG manufactures the APAS (automated plate assessment system) Independence, an in vitro diagnostic instrument that uses AI algorithms to analyze agar culture plates and screen for bacterial growth. The company markets its products in Australia, Europe, and the US, and is a joint venture between LBT Innovations Ltd and Hettich Holding Beteiligungs und Verwaltungs GmbH.
2024-04
ASX
For personal use only - ASX
In the 2025 financial year, Clever Culture Systems (CCS) focused on positioning the APASu00ae Independence as a leading technology for culture plate reading in pharmaceutical environmental monitoring. The company, formerly LBT Innovations Ltd, changed its name in November 2024 to streamline communications.
2025-09
News FDA
Clever Culture Systems AG Release: U.S. FDA Grants Approval For ...
Clever Culture Systems AG received U.S. FDA approval for LBT's APAS, a significant regulatory milestone for their automated plate assessment system.
2016-10
MDPI
Artificial Intelligence in Translational Medicine - MDPI
Clever Culture Systems AG is noted for its AI/ML tool used to automate culture plate imaging, analysis, and interpretation, with FDA clearance (K183648) in Microbiology in September 2019. This highlights the company's contribution to artificial intelligence in translational medicine.
2021-11
GlobalData
Clever Culture Systems medical device development – a pipeline landscape
Clever Culture Systems and its subsidiaries are actively developing 10 products within the In Vitro Diagnostics market, with a primary focus on infectious diseases and wounds and injuries. This report provides an overview of the company's pipeline landscape.
2024-05
Simply Wall St
Clever Culture Systems (ASX:CC5) - Stock Analysis - Simply Wall St
Clever Culture Systems (formerly LBT Innovations Ltd) reported a net profit after tax of $1.68 million for the year ended June 30, 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.74 million loss in 2024. The company has also secured 14 instrument placements for its APASu00ae Independence, including multi-instrument orders from major pharmaceutical companies.
2026-07
LeadIQ
CSL Behring Company Overview, Contact Details & Competitors - LeadIQ
Clever Culture Systems AG signed CSL Behring AG as a new client on June 10, 2026. This involves an order for its APAS Independence microbiology automation platform under a five-year lease agreement.
2026-06
Listcorp
$1.5M Funding Awarded for New APAS Instrument - Clever Culture Systems Limited (ASX:CC5) - Listcorp.
LBT Innovations Limited, the parent company of Clever Culture Systems AG, was awarded $1.5 million in funding from the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through MTPConnect's CTCM program. This funding will support the development of a new, smaller benchtop APASu00ae instrument, the APASu00ae Compact.
2022-10

Frequently Asked Questions

Clever Culture Systems AG's APAS Independence utilizes advanced AI algorithms and machine learning to automate the imaging, analysis, and interpretation of microbial growth on culture plates. This intelligent automation helps to streamline laboratory workflows by accurately identifying growth characteristics and triaging plates, reducing manual processing and improving consistency.
The APAS Independence system supports clinical diagnostic applications such as urine screening for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and infection control testing for organisms like MRSA and VRE. Additionally, it is used in environmental monitoring within pharmaceutical manufacturing for reading plates related to sterility testing, microbial limits, and water testing.
The APAS Independence has achieved significant regulatory clearances, including US FDA clearance, CE Marking to the new IVDR in Europe, registration with the MHRA in the UK, and listing on the ARTG in Australia. For pharmaceutical applications, the system is validated to meet compendial requirements such as USP , Ph Eur 5.1.6, USP , and Ph Eur 2.6.12.
Clever Culture Systems AG operates on a 'razor-and-blade' business model, where the initial purchase of the APAS Independence instrument is followed by recurring revenue from software licenses and service contracts. They offer comprehensive primary validation packages and a suite of services to assist customers with implementation and integration into existing laboratory workflows.
Clever Culture Systems AG has a strategic partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, which acts as the exclusive US distributor for clinical customers. In the pharmaceutical sector, they have established significant deals with global drugmakers like AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Novo Nordisk, which also contribute to product development, particularly for specialized analysis modules.
Formerly known as LBT Innovations, the company rebranded to Clever Culture Systems AG in November 2024, reflecting its refined focus. The company reported its maiden profit in FY25 and is generating growing recurring revenue from software licenses and service contracts, indicating a positive trajectory and increasing market adoption, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.
The APAS Independence is designed for seamless integration with existing laboratory LIMS, allowing for auto-release of negative results and efficient digital workflow management. It supports current culture media and incubation protocols, minimizing disruption to established laboratory processes while enhancing consistency and traceability.

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