– A World-First Monitoring Solution Supporting Next-Generation Drug Discovery and Microbiological Innovation –

Tokyo, Japan – CarbGeM Inc. is proud to announce the official launch of its Bacterial Growth Monitor (BGM) service, a groundbreaking solution that enables precise monitoring of microbial growth on solid media—an essential but previously underdeveloped area in microbiological research.

By leveraging advanced 2D TFT sensor technology and AI-based image analysis, BGM makes it possible to detect changes in optical density (OD) on solid culture media every 5 minutes at 1000×1000 pixel resolution. Researchers simply conduct experiments using the provided BGM device, and CarbGeM’s expert team delivers comprehensive analysis results. This novel system opens up entirely new possibilities for the exploration, quantification, and understanding of microbial dynamics.

About BGM Solutions

BGM supports a wide range of research applications, such as:

• Novel antibiotic discovery
  Effective in the screening of small molecule compounds, antimicrobial peptides, and bacteriophages.
• Novel microbe discovery
  Ideal for environmental sampling and the creation of high-performance strains via Experimental Evolution.
• Creation of new research fields
  CarbGeM’s dedicated analysis team provides full support for the planning and execution of new studies.

Key Features

• Cutting-edge technology co-developed with European and North American research institutions
• The world’s first system capable of monitoring microbial growth directly on solid media (according to CarbGeM’s research)
• AI-powered image analysis detects subtle growth patterns, including early exponential phases
• End-to-end support from experimental design through final reporting

Development Background

Traditional microbial experiments on solid agar require at least a full day for visual interpretation. Existing time-lapse image techniques fail to capture early-phase growth dynamics. BGM solves this challenge by using TFT sensors to continuously detect transmitted light through agar media, allowing early and sensitive quantification of microbial growth. The platform also supports early-stage evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility tests using disc diffusion methods.

Global Outlook

CarbGeM believes BGM will redefine the standard for solid-media microbial research across drug discovery, diagnostics, and environmental science.　The company will present its latest findings on this technology at ASM Microbe 2025 on June 22 in Los Angeles (poster number AAR-SUNDAY-473).

Product Page:
https://carbgem.com/en/bacteria-growth-monitor-ie-en/

About CarbGeM Inc.
CarbGeM Inc. is a deep-tech company based in Tokyo, Japan, integrating AI and biotechnology to provide innovative solutions for the life sciences sector. With expertise in microbial diagnostics, digital transformation, and next-generation image analysis, the company is committed to supporting global research and healthcare innovation.

Website: https://carbgem.com
Headquarters: 6F Route Jinnan Bldg., 1-5-13 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
CEO: Masakazu Nakajima