Chengdu Qi Carbon Technology

About Chengdu Qi Carbon Technology

Chengdu Qi Carbon Technology, also known as Qitan Tech, is a developer and manufacturer operating in the upstream segment of the gene sequencing industry. The company was established in September 2016 and is a collaborative effort by its founders, CEO Dr. Hu Geng, Dr. Xie Dan, and Chief Scientist Dr. Bai Jingwei. Dr. Bai, a Tsinghua University researcher, holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from UCLA and has over a decade of experience in micro-nano device development, which is central to the company's technology.

The company's business model is centered on the research, development, manufacturing, and sale of nanopore gene sequencers, which represent the fourth generation of sequencing technology. This includes providing the core instruments as well as the accompanying proprietary consumables like sequencing chips (Qcells), reagents, and a one-stop data analysis platform. By supplying these foundational tools, Qitan Tech enables downstream clients to build out their own applications, positioning itself as a platform-level enterprise. Revenue is generated from the sale of these instruments and recurring sales of the necessary consumables. The company serves a diverse client base that includes hundreds of institutions such as disease control and prevention centers, hospitals, universities, and scientific research institutes.

Qitan Tech broke significant ground by developing China's first domestically-produced nanopore gene sequencer, addressing a critical dependency on foreign technology in the Chinese market. Its first commercial product, the QNome-3841, was launched in December 2021, marking the company's transition from R&D to commercialization. This instrument is a small-throughput sequencer noted for its portability and ability to deliver real-time results, making it suitable for applications that require rapid turnaround without the need to batch samples, such as in-field pathogen detection. Since then, the product line has expanded to include models like the QNome-3841hex and the portable, palm-sized QPursue-6k, which offers a medium throughput to support more data-intensive applications like large genome sequencing. The company has also established a production base in Chengdu's Tianfu International Bio-town, capable of annually producing 2,000 sequencers and one million sets of配套 chips and kits.