The latest member to the CleverHealth Network, led by HUS Helsinki University Hospital, is software company ART Sofware. The company focuses on developing software for clinics offering in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments. The company’s main product, Aline, addresses the needs of IVF clinics, particularly around the traceability and anonymity of human reproductive cells — ensuring that traceability is never broken while maintaining essential privacy. Petri Numminen and Sonja Lindfors shared their expectations on joining the CHN ecosystem.
Petri Numminen has served as Chief Executive Officer at ART Sofware since the company’s founding in 2021. ART Sofware, based in Joensuu, Finland, employs more than 10 people and focuses on developing software for clinics offering fertility treatments. ART Sofware’s core competence lies in optimizing IVF laboratory processes. The seamless flow of information between doctors and the laboratory is essential in IVF treatments, where timing is everything, especially in egg retrieval and embryo cultivation. Perfect synchronisation is at the heart of Aline’s functionality.
Expertise and clinical insight
Sonja Lindfors, who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and research background in embryology, has worked on the development and testing of the Aline software for 1.5 years. She serves as an IVF software specialist and acts as the main contact for the CHN ecosystem. Her scientific experience sparked her interest in fertility treatments and contributes to the clinical relevance of ART Sofware’s work. Sonja explains that Aline software has already been piloted in several fertility clinics, both in Finland and abroad, and negotiations for further implementation are ongoing. The company is closely preparing for the implementation of IVF register by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). To enable the automatic register data transfer required by the THL, several concrete steps have already been taken. The data transfer from IVF clinics will start from 1st of Jan 2026 onwards.
ART Sofware joined the CHN ecosystem to be able to gain access to real-world clinical data, which is essential for developing software that truly meets the needs of fertility clinics. Participation in the CHN ecosystem also opens doors to networking, collaboration with clinicians and other companies and open discussion with diverse stakeholders — a valuable foundation for impactful, data-driven development.
Looking forward to collaborating in the IVF AI project
According to Sonja Lindfors, ART Sofware is highly interested in the recently started IVF AI initiative within the CHN ecosystem. The strengths of the Aline software include its browser-based, modern architecture and seamless data transfer between units. In the IVF AI project, Aline could serve as a test platform for other companies’ technological solutions. Its multitenant environment allows for diverse testing configurations, enabling simultaneous evaluation of different algorithms. The software’s adaptability and integration with other systems are additional advantages, and ART Sofware’s deep understanding of IVF lab workflows has always guided its product development.
Expectations and future visions
Within the CHN ecosystem, ART Sofware sees opportunities to address the emotional and logistical challenges faced by infertile couples, especially regarding donated reproductive cells. Matching donors to recipients from the donor registry is currently done manually by nurses, but technology could bring more efficiency and objectivity to the process. Synchronising schedules between donors and recipients, automating queue management and ensuring rapid and accurate data transfer are crucial challenges. Fast documentation and innovative solutions such as voice-controlled tools are also being developed to ease the work of IVF professionals.
ART Sofware actively collaborates with both Finnish and international clinics. A new donor gamete bank is under development, with the goal of streamlining donor queue management. Looking ahead, the company aims to bring more Finnish clinics on board and expand into the Nordic and Baltic markets, targeting more clinics as clients.
International cooperation and regulatory landscape
International partnerships are vital for ART Sofware, as IVF regulations differ from country to country. Local partners are needed to navigate legal requirements. Sonja Lindfors reminds that Europe is moving towards harmonised practices in treatments with donated gametes, and clinics are standardising their procedures. ART Sofware keeps a close eye on these developments to stay on top of the game.
The mission of ART Sofware is to ease the administrative burden on clinics by providing tools that reduce manual work and paperwork, allowing professionals to focus on their core expertise: patient interaction, holistic treatment planning and selection of the best possible embryo. This leads to better care and resource efficiency.
Active participation and broader impact
Petri Numminen and Sonja Lindfors are looking forward to active collaboration and exchanging ideas with other partners. They have already experienced the supportive and welcoming atmosphere of the CHN ecosystem. ART Sofware’s primary goal is to develop data-driven solutions and CHN provides an excellent platform for this development work.
To conclude, Sonja points out that the software developed by ART Sofware is also relevant for other cell and tissue donations, such as corneal transplants, where traceability is crucial. The company’s technology has broader applications in the field, especially when considering new regulations such as the SoHo regulation (Substances of Human Origin). Interest in ART Sofware’s solutions extends well beyond reproductive medicine.
In photo: IVF software specialists Elisa Lehtilahti and Sonja Lindfors from ART Sofware at European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference.
