What Nielson Scientific does

Nielson Scientific LLC is a privately held microfabrication company founded in 2017 by Dr. Gregory Nielson, headquartered at 746 East 820 North, Provo, Utah. The company develops proprietary 3D microfabrication and nano-ablation technologies for semiconductors, metals, and other advanced materials, enabling true three-dimensional microsystem structures beyond the limits of conventional 2D lithography. Its core technology platform comprises direct-write 3D semiconductor etching (capable of >100:1 aspect ratio features in silicon, silicon carbide, and diamond, published in Nature 2024), direct-write nano-ablation with 50 nanometer positioning accuracy (IEEE, 2022), and light-assisted wire electrical discharge machining for semiconductors (IEEE, 2021).

The company's product portfolio spans terahertz filters (0.1-20 THz band-pass, low-pass, high-pass variants), superconducting flex cables with NbTi metallurgy and 7K critical temperature, silicon beam splitters, wire-grid polarizers, MEMS vertical cryogenic probe cards on silicon carbide substrates, micro metal mesh, and custom micro flex circuits. Nielson Scientific serves a primarily B2B customer base across five verticals: defense and government (notably the U.S. Army for cryogenic probe cards), research and academic institutions, quantum computing, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, and particle physics (CERN, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory).

The business model is project-based custom microfabrication services combined with discrete product sales under quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts. Customer acquisition runs through direct sales, website inquiry forms, and the firm's technical publication record in Nature and IEEE. The company is bootstrapped, holds ISO 9001 certification, employs 1-10 staff, and has received approximately $1.375 million in cumulative non-dilutive federal funding (NSF 2019, DOE 2024).

Name

Nielson Scientific

Legal name

Nielson Scientific LLC

Website

https://nielsonscientific.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nielson Scientific is a Provo, Utah-based microfabrication company that uses proprietary 3D semiconductor etching, nano-ablation, and light-assisted wire EDM to build custom microsystem components for defense, research, quantum computing, and particle physics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfabrication Services and Microsystems

NAICS

Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Precision Micro-3D Printing Services (micro-SLA, micro-metal, microfluidics) (IMAAADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM) (IMAHADAF), Micro/Nanoscale & Precision 3D Printers (Two-Photon, Micro-SLA) (IMAAAAAI)

Keywords

• 3D microfabrication
• Semiconductor etching
• Nano-ablation services
• Terahertz filters
• Superconducting cables

Headquarters

HQ city

Lehi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Custom Microfabrication Services: Project-based custom fabrication services for advanced microsystems, solving microsystem challenges for private and public customers. Work includes design, prototyping, and production of specialized components.
2. THz Filters and Optical Components: Sale of terahertz filters including low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass filters with custom specifications. Also includes polarizers and silicon beam splitters for research and industrial applications.
3. Superconducting Flex Cables: Custom superconducting flex cables for quantum computing, astronomical instruments, and medical devices. High-density patterned cables combining traditional flex circuit manufacturing with proprietary nano-ablation.
4. Cryogenic Probe Cards: Custom-designed MEMS vertical probe cards built on silicon carbide substrates for cryogenic testing of infrared focal plane arrays and integrated circuits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nielson Scientific provides custom 3D microfabrication services and specialized microsystem products for advanced applications. It sells proprietary direct-write 3D semiconductor etching, nano-ablation, and light-assisted wire EDM capabilities, and delivers finished products such as terahertz filters, superconducting flex cables, cryogenic probe cards, silicon beam splitters, polarizers, and micro metal mesh structures to defense, research, and quantum computing customers.

Product overview

Nielson Scientific is a 3D microfabrication and microsystems company offering proprietary technologies and specialized products. Their core technologies include 3D semiconductor etching (described as 'The Nanoscribe for Semiconductors'), nano-ablation for sub-micron precision laser processing, and light-assisted wire EDM. The product portfolio includes terahertz filters (band-pass, low-pass, and high-pass variants ranging 0.1-20 THz), superconducting flex cables with 7K critical temperature, silicon beam splitters, wire grid polarizers, cryogenic probe cards, micro metal mesh structures, and custom micro flex circuits. These products serve applications in quantum computing, THz imaging and spectroscopy, particle accelerators, astronomical instruments, and defense systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Semiconductor Etching Custom direct-write 3D etching service for high-quality single-crystal semiconductor materials including silicon, silicon carbide, and diamond, creating non-line-of-sight, high aspect ratio (>100:1) features down to a few microns resolution. Used by advanced microsystem developers in semiconductor, defense, and research applications.
• Nano Ablation Custom direct-write laser ablation service producing feature sizes below one micron with 50 nanometer positioning accuracy, capable of selectively removing thin film layers as thin as 50nm on planar and non-planar surfaces and scalable up to 80cm x 80cm areas. Serves customers needing sub-micron patterning on metals, polymers, and semiconductors.
• Light Assisted Wire EDM Custom semiconductor wire EDM service enhanced with light illumination to increase conductivity in semiconductors, enabling faster, more precise cuts with lower kerf loss and tens-of-microns feature sizes for hard-to-machine semiconductor materials.
• Terahertz Filters Custom high-pass, low-pass, and band-pass THz filters covering 0.1 to 20 THz with high transmittance (>80%) and configurable bandwidth, built for THz imaging, spectroscopy, 6G communications, and security systems.
• Low-Pass Terahertz Filters Custom low-pass THz filters operating from 0.1 to 10 THz with configurable cutoff frequency, >70% average transmittance in pass band, and <3% absorption out of band.
• Band-Pass Terahertz Filters Precision band-pass THz filters covering 0.1 to 20 THz with typically 80%-90% transmission within passband and cryogenic compatibility for low-temperature (<10K) systems.
• Superconducting Flex Cables High-density patterned superconducting flex cables using a custom metal stack (typically NbTi) with superconducting critical temperature of 7K and 1 micron pattern resolution, designed for quantum computing, astronomical instruments, and medical devices.
• Silicon Beam Splitters Silicon THz beam splitters in single-side polished and double-side polished variants used for on-chip beam splitting, far-infrared spectroscopy, lidar systems, and biochemical sensors.
• Polarizers Polypropylene film-based THz and IR polarizers with ultra-fine grooves partially coated with aluminum, available in apertures from 0.5 inch to 6 inches, used in spectroscopy, imaging, and material characterization.
• Cryogenic Probe Cards Custom MEMS vertical probe cards on silicon carbide substrates with through-wafer vias for testing and verifying integrated circuits, particularly for characterizing neighboring pixels of infrared focal plane arrays at cryogenic temperatures.
• Micro Metal Mesh Metal mesh structures composed of a 6 micron thick polymer with a 50nm gold layer, created via nano-ablation to avoid secondary electron or photon emissions, used for filtration and accelerator applications.
• Micro Flex Circuits Custom patterned flex circuits for ultra-sensitive instruments, focal plane arrays, and quantum computing applications, produced using rapid direct-write nano-ablation on planar and non-planar surfaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• High aspect ratio features >100:1 achievable in semiconductor etching
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SLAC National Accelerator LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on micro flex circuits for particle accelerator applications. Nielson Scientific provides custom microfabricated components for SLAC's advanced physics research facilities, leveraging their proprietary nano-ablation technology.
• CERNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for micro metal mesh structures used in electron and proton accelerators for advanced physics experiments and detectors. Nielson Scientific supplies specialized mesh structures that prevent secondary electron or photon emissions.
• Research Institutions (General)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with research institutions for developing flex cable manufacturing capabilities for applications including quantum computing, medical-grade cables, and ultra-sensitive astronomical instruments. Company is actively expanding these partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FormFactor: FormFactor is a global leader in semiconductor probe cards, including cryogenic and MEMS-based variants for advanced testing. It is the dominant incumbent competing for the cryogenic probe card business Nielson has built with the U.S. Army.
• Oxford Instruments NanoScience: Oxford Instruments NanoScience is a major supplier of cryogenic systems and measurement tools used in quantum computing and low-temperature physics. It is an indirect peer via the cryogenic quantum and research end markets that Nielson serves.
• MPI Corporation: MPI Corporation is a Taiwanese manufacturer of probe cards, test equipment, and advanced semiconductor packaging solutions. It serves as a broader incumbent competing in adjacent probe card segments.

Direct peers

• Raith: Raith is a German manufacturer of nanofabrication equipment including electron-beam lithography, ion-beam, and laser direct-write systems. It targets the same university, national-lab, and quantum-computing customer base as Nielson Scientific.
• Heidelberg Instruments: Heidelberg Instruments manufactures direct-write lithography and nanofabrication systems for micro- and nano-scale structures. It competes directly with Nielson's direct-write 3D etching and nano-ablation technologies across research institutes and industrial customers.
• Nanoscribe: Nanoscribe is the leading commercial vendor of two-photon polymerization micro-3D printers. Nielson Scientific explicitly describes its 3D semiconductor etching as 'The Nanoscribe for Semiconductors,' making Nanoscribe the closest direct comparable in micro-3D fabrication technology and customer profile.
• Translarity: Translarity specializes in advanced probe card technologies, including MEMS-based and cryogenic test solutions. It directly competes with Nielson's NS Cryogenic Probe Card line for IR focal plane array and integrated circuit test applications.
• Microlight3D: Microlight3D is a French vendor of two-photon polymerization micro-3D printing systems for sub-micron structures. It is a direct peer in precision micro-3D fabrication, although focused more on academic and biomedical customers than semiconductor applications.
• Delft Circuits: Delft Circuits is a Dutch startup specializing in superconducting cabling and cryogenic interconnects for quantum computing. It directly competes with Nielson's superconducting flex cable product line for the same quantum processor customers.

Emerging players

• Workshop of Photonics: Workshop of Photonics provides femtosecond laser micromachining services and systems for applications including photonics, MEMS, and biomedical devices. It overlaps with Nielson's laser-based nano-ablation capabilities and serves similar research customers.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nielson-scientific

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nielson Scientific