Icare Group joins Certania

The Icare Group, a French specialist in health product safety, is joining Certania, an international group experiencing strong growth in the Testing, Inspection & Certification (TIC) sector. The transaction, announced on 13 November 2025, contributes to establishing Certania as a comprehensive pan-European platform dedicated to life sciences.

Founded in 1995 and based at the Clermont-Limagne Biopole in Saint-Beauzire (Puy-de-Dôme), the Icare Group supports more than 1,800 clients in over 40 countries. The company has more than 200 employees based in France, Switzerland and Brazil. Its services cover a wide range of needs: microbiology, physico-chemical testing, biocompatibility and toxicology, process validation, regulatory affairs and certified training.

Icare is joining Certania’s Life Sciences division, thereby strengthening the group’s geographical presence in Western Europe and Latin America, and expanding its offering across the full lifecycle of medical devices and pharmaceutical products.

Management continuity and gradual integration

When the acquisition was announced, Séverine Itier, CEO of the Icare Group, emphasised that this integration represents “a logical step” in the group’s development, enabling it to expand its capabilities while preserving its scientific independence.

Founder Christian Poinsot will become Scientific Advisor, supporting the transition and maintaining relationships with key strategic clients.

He noted that the company has grown “from a small four-person laboratory into a recognised player in medical device safety”, and sees Certania as a partner that will support further development.

A strategic investment for Certania

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Munich, Certania brings together nearly 40 companies in the TIC sector. The group operates in the fields of life sciences, food and consumer goods, industry, system certification, sustainability and infrastructure.

According to its founder and CEO, Karsten Xander, the arrival of the Icare Group significantly strengthens the group’s scientific expertise and aligns with its strategy to help healthcare stakeholders navigate an ever-evolving regulatory environment.

With this acquisition, Certania continues building a collaborative ecosystem that unites specialised companies while offering them shared resources and enhanced international reach. The Icare Group is expected to benefit from structural and technological support while maintaining its human-scale organisation.