What Innovative Sensor Technology IST does

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG is a Swiss-based manufacturer of physical, chemical, and biological sensors founded in 1991 and headquartered in Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Endress+Hauser Group, a global leader in industrial process measurement. iST operates approximately 450-500 employees worldwide, with primary R&D and high-spec production in Switzerland and a secondary manufacturing facility in Roznov pod Radhostem, Czech Republic, complemented by sales and application support offices in the United States (Las Vegas), China (Shanghai), and India (Mumbai), plus a global distributor network.

iST's product portfolio spans eight core categories: thin-film and thick-film platinum and nickel RTD temperature sensors (covering -200°C to +1000°C), TSic calibrated semiconductor temperature sensors, thermal mass flow sensors for gases and liquids (OOL and SFS series), capacitive humidity sensors and digital I2C modules (HYT family, including heated variants), planar conductivity sensors, multi-analyte biosensors (glucose, lactate, glutamine, glutamate), platinum micro-heaters, and thermal infrared emitters via its subsidiary Infrasolid. Through additional subsidiaries — iST Senstech (force, pressure, torque, strain), iST Innuscreen (DNA/RNA extraction), and iST Jobst (biosensors and microfluidics) — the group extends into adjacent sensing and molecular-diagnostics technologies. The company develops over 200 new sensor variants annually and offers customization ranging from minor modifications to full co-development.

Revenue is generated through three streams: component and module hardware sales, customized sensor development as a professional service, and OEM sensor integration solutions with licensing-like economics. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (Area Sales Managers, Application Engineers), regional direct sales offices, a global distributor network, and a self-service e-commerce webshop for sample quantities. iST serves seven primary verticals — Medical Devices, Industrial Process Control, E-Mobility and Automotive, Aerospace and Space, Bioprocessing, Environmental Monitoring, and Renewable Energy — with deep application expertise in regulated environments (ESCC-qualified space hardware, ISO 9001/14001-certified manufacturing, medical-grade long-term stable biosensors).

Name

Innovative Sensor Technology IST

Legal name

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG

Website

https://www.ist-ag.com/en/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG is a Swiss manufacturer of physical, chemical, and biological sensors, serving medical, industrial, automotive, aerospace, biotech, environmental, and renewable energy customers worldwide as a subsidiary of the Endress+Hauser Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration) (IMAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD), Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO), Automotive Sensors Manufacturing (Position/Pressure/Temp/IMU/Radar/LiDAR Cameras) (IMACAJAD), Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Thin-film RTD sensors
• Thermal mass flow sensors
• Capacitive humidity sensors
• Biosensor technology
• Thermal infrared emitters

Headquarters

HQ city

Ebnat-kappel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sensor Hardware Sales: Sale of physical sensors including temperature sensors, humidity sensors, flow sensors, conductivity sensors, and biosensors as components and modules
2. Customized Sensor Development: Joint development of new technologies and customization of sensors to individual customer-specific application needs, ranging from minor modifications to complete new product development
3. OEM Sensor Integration Solutions: Technology partner services for sensor technology development, consultation, and integration support from design through production to after-sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG manufactures physical, chemical, and biological sensors including thin-film and thick-film platinum and nickel RTD temperature sensors, capacitive humidity sensors, thermal mass flow sensors, planar conductivity sensors, multi-analyte biosensors, micro-heaters, and thermal infrared emitters. The company also offers customized sensor development, OEM integration solutions, and force/torque/strain sensors through its Senstech subsidiary, plus DNA/RNA extraction kits via iST Innuscreen.

Product overview

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG is a manufacturer of physical, chemical, and biological sensors offering a comprehensive portfolio organized around eight core product categories: temperature sensors (including Platinum RTDs covering -200°C to +1000°C, Nickel RTDs, and TSic semiconductor sensors), flow sensors and modules (thermal mass flow sensors for gases and liquids including the OOL and SFS series), humidity sensors and modules (capacitive elements and digital I2C modules including heated variants), conductivity sensors (planar geometry sensors for 1 µS/cm to 200 mS/cm range), biosensors (multi-analyte sensors for glucose, lactate, glutamine, glutamate), micro-heaters (platinum-based heating elements up to 85W), and thermal infrared emitters (HISbasic, HISpower, and HISsmd series via subsidiary Infrasolid). The company also offers force, torque, and surface strain sensors through subsidiary Senstech, and DNA/RNA extraction kits through subsidiary iST Innuscreen. Products are available as standard components or customized solutions, with modules offering factory calibration and digital interfaces for easy system integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Platinum RTD Temperature Sensors Thin and thick-film platinum resistance temperature detectors covering -200°C to +1000°C with high accuracy, minimal drift, and robust construction for industrial, automotive, and aerospace applications.
• Nickel RTD Temperature Sensors Nickel-based temperature sensors with operating range of -60°C to +300°C featuring simple linearization, steep characteristic curve, and excellent long-term stability.
• TSic Semiconductor Temperature Sensors Calibrated semiconductor temperature sensors with integrated signal converter for analog or digital output, featuring low power consumption ideal for mobile applications.
• Thermal Mass Flow Sensors Thin-film heating and temperature sensing elements for gas flow measurement with dynamic range up to 100m/s and operating temperatures up to +400°C.
• HYT Humidity Sensors Capacitive humidity sensor elements with measuring range 0-100% RH and operating temperatures from -80°C to +190°C.
• LFS Conductivity Sensors Planar geometry conductivity sensors on ceramic chips measuring from 1 µS/cm to 200 mS/cm with gold or platinum electrodes.
• Biosensors Multi-analyte biosensors measuring glucose, lactate, glutamine, and glutamate with long-term stability over 60 days for continuous monitoring in bioreactors.
• Micro-Heaters Platinum heater tracks on alumina substrate covered with glass protection for precise, reliable heating of solids, liquids, and gases up to 85W.
• Thermal Infrared Emitters Thermal infrared emitters in TO-39/TO-5/TO-8 and SMD packages for gas analysis, material detection, and spectroscopy, offered via subsidiary Infrasolid.
• Force, Torque and Surface Strain Sensors Thin-film force sensors, torque sensors (shear force, cage, measuring flange), and welded surface strain sensors for medical and industrial devices, offered via subsidiary Senstech.
• DNA/RNA Extraction Kits Nucleic acid extraction kits using spin filter, magnetic beads, smart modified surface, or polymer mediated enrichment technologies, offered via subsidiary iST Innuscreen.
• Cryo-Temperature Sensor Precision temperature sensor for cryogenic conditions down to 15 Kelvin for liquid hydrogen applications.
• FDS.A Double Gas Flow Sensor Gas flow sensor with decoupled heater and temperature element for high sensitivity at low flow rates.
• Heated HYT Humidity Module Multi-functional digital humidity module with integrated micro-heater for VOC contaminated environments with customizable heating steps.
• Moisture-in-Oil Sensor with Evaluation Kit Digital RH/T module with evaluation kit measuring relative water saturation in oils and fuels for predictive maintenance in industrial plants.
• SFS Flow Module Linearized mass flow module for gases with bi-directional calorimetric measurement, response time ≤20ms, repeatability 0.2% and accuracy 2%.
• OOL Liquid Flow Sensors and Modules Stainless steel flow-through sensors, mass flow meters, and bubble detectors for aggressive liquids including coolants, oils, and CIP cleaning chemicals with excellent thermal contact.

Quantifiable outcome

• Temperature sensors with drift-free voltage up to 10kV exceeding ESD Level 4 requirements (IEC 61000-4-2)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iST Senstech (Senstech AG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary in Fehraltorf, Switzerland specializing in force, pressure, strain and displacement sensors for industrial and medical devices.
• iST Jobst (Jobst Technologies GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary in Freiburg, Germany developing and manufacturing biosensors and microfluidic technologies. Rebranded from Jobst Technologies to iST Jobst in November 2025.
• iST Innuscreen (IST Innuscreen GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary in Berlin, Germany offering DNA & RNA extraction kits and molecular diagnostics technology platforms.
• Infrasolid GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary in Dresden, Germany specializing in thermal infrared emitters for gas analysis, material detection and spectroscopy.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreTechnology or IntegrationESA has qualified iST's HiRel thin film platinum temperature sensors through the European Space Components Coordination (ESCC) qualification process.
• Universities and Technical InstitutesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with a broad network of partners including institutes and universities to push boundaries of existing technology and create innovations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Sensirion: Swiss-based sensor manufacturer specializing in humidity, temperature, gas, and flow sensors for industrial, automotive, and medical markets. Directly comparable to iST on technology portfolio, target customers, and Swiss heritage; competes head-to-head in humidity and flow sensing.
• WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG: German manufacturer of measurement solutions including temperature, pressure, and force sensors. Comparable to iST on industrial temperature and force sensor offerings and on European mid-market/industrial customer base.
• ifm Electronic: German supplier of industrial sensors (temperature, flow, level, pressure) plus IO-Link connectivity. Comparable to iST on industrial process sensor portfolios and on European mid-market customer targeting.
• Balluff: German manufacturer of sensors including temperature, pressure, flow, and position sensors for factory automation. Comparable to iST on industrial sensor categories and OEM/channel sales approach.
• Jumo GmbH & Co. KG: German mid-sized manufacturer of temperature, pressure, humidity, and conductivity sensors plus analytical measurement. Comparable to iST on European mid-market industrial sensor positioning and on overlapping temperature and humidity portfolios.

Broad incumbents

• TE Connectivity: Global diversified electronics company with a large sensor portfolio spanning temperature, humidity, pressure, and force. Comparable to iST as a much larger incumbent serving overlapping industrial, automotive, and medical sensor markets.
• Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions: Major global sensor manufacturer covering temperature, humidity, pressure, flow, and gas sensing. Comparable to iST as a large broad-line incumbent serving overlapping industrial, aerospace, and medical applications.
• Endress+Hauser (parent group): Parent of iST and global leader in industrial process measurement (flow, level, temperature, pressure, analytics). Comparable to iST as a sibling entity serving overlapping temperature, flow, and analytical measurement markets.
• ams-OSRAM (Industrial/Medical Sensor Division): Major global sensor and photonics vendor covering optical, environmental (humidity/gas), and biomedical sensing. Comparable to iST in environmental and biosensor categories and on global industrial customer reach.
• Sensata Technologies: Global industrial and automotive sensor manufacturer with strengths in temperature, pressure, and position sensing. Comparable to iST on automotive sensor applications and on industrial customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/company/innovative-sensor-technology
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCj7LJjXjXcYx8AeKJ8aqQfA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISTAGCH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovative-sensor-technology

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Innovative Sensor Technology IST