What AMO GmbH does

AMO GmbH – Gesellschaft für Angewandte Mikro- und Optoelektronik mbH is a non-profit German research organization founded in 1993 in Aachen, specializing in nanotechnology at the interface between academic and industrial research. It operates Nanolab AMICA, a 400 m² Class 10–1000 cleanroom equipped with electron-beam and interference lithography, CVD and ALD systems, and nanoimprint capabilities, and conducts research across five domains: graphene electronics, nanophotonics, nanostructuring, sensor technology (UV, THz, biosensing), and perovskite optoelectronics. Its proprietary technology stack centers on the AMONIL® UV-curing nanoimprint resist, the matching AMOPRIME adhesion promoter, and an end-to-end graphene foundry offering spanning material growth through device patterning and characterization.

AMO monetizes primarily through publicly funded collaborative research contracts (EU Graphene Flagship, 2D Pilot Line, EIC Pathfinder, BMFTR, DFG), supplemented by custom fee-for-service cleanroom access and prototyping for academic and industrial clients, and technology transfer via licensing and spin-off vehicles such as Protemics GmbH (terahertz, 2014) and AMOtronics (electronics and measurement, 2010). Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed; engagements are typically multi-year. The institute is a member of the Johannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft (JRF), institutionally supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and serves a concentrated set of enterprise customers that includes IBM Research Europe, Infineon Technologies, AIXTRON SE, micro resist technology, Vishay Semiconductor, and Abbott Automation, alongside EU and German public funding bodies. Leadership is anchored by Prof. Max C. Lemme (CEO, IEEE Fellow 2025), and the institute sustains an active publication and conference presence in venues such as Nature, Nano Letters, Light: Science & Applications, and Advanced Electronic Materials.

Name

AMO GmbH

Legal name

AMO GmbH - Gesellschaft für Angewandte Mikro- und Optoelektronik mbH

Website

https://amo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AMO GmbH is a non-profit German nanotechnology research institute in Aachen operating a 400 m² cleanroom for graphene electronics, nanophotonics, nanostructuring, sensors, and perovskite optoelectronics, serving academic and industrial clients through funded research, prototyping services, and technology transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Blumenthal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts: Collaborative research projects funded by industry partners and public funding bodies. Projects are typically multi-year engagements with defined deliverables.
2. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Commercialization of developed technologies, know-how, and IP to industrial partners through licensing agreements.
3. Cleanroom Access and Prototyping Services: Fee-for-service access to cleanroom facilities and prototyping capabilities for external researchers and companies.
4. Graphene Foundry Services: Custom graphene device fabrication services for customers requiring specific device structures or materials integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AMO GmbH is a non-profit nanotechnology research institute that operates the Nanolab AMICA (a Class 10 to Class 1000 cleanroom) and provides micro- and nanofabrication services across graphene electronics, nanophotonics, nanostructuring, sensor technology, and perovskite optoelectronics. It sells cleanroom access, prototyping services, graphene foundry offerings, the proprietary AMONIL® UV-curing nanoimprint resist, and technology transfer to industry and academic partners.

Product overview

AMO GmbH is a non-profit research organization specializing in nanotechnology with over 30 years of experience. The company operates Nanolab AMICA, a Class 10 to Class 1000 cleanroom facility, and offers a comprehensive portfolio of micro- and nanofabrication services organized around three pillars: (1) Foundational technologies including Electron Beam Lithography, Interference Lithography, Mastering, and Cleanroom Technology; (2) Core offerings including Photonic Components (SOI Nanophotonics), Graphene Foundry Services, and Prototyping Services; (3) Proprietary materials including AMONIL® UV-curing resist and AMOPRIME adhesion promoter. Research domains span Graphene Electronics, Nanophotonics, Nanostructuring, Sensor Technology, and Perovskite Optoelectronics. The 2D Pilot Line enables multi-project wafer runs for graphene-based electronic devices. AMO also provides Technology Transfer Services, Education and Training, and publishes the nanovate! magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMONIL®: UV-curing resist developed by AMO for nanoimprint applications, offering excellent coating and imprint properties, profile accuracy, and plasma stability.
• AMOPRIME
• NANOLAB AMICA

Products and services

• Nanolab AMICA Cleanroom Facility A Class 10 to Class 1000 cleanroom facility equipped with advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment used for micro- and nanofabrication of electronic, photonic, sensor, and biotechnological devices. Offered to academic and industrial partners as a fee-for-service facility.
• Prototyping Services Development and prototyping services in micro- and nanotechnology for applications in electronics, photonics, sensor technology and biotechnology, offering competencies across multiple technological domains for external researchers and companies.
• Graphene Foundry Services Customized graphene component manufacturing and assistance in developing proprietary manufacturing processes for customers seeking graphene technology transfer, covering CVD growth, transfer, and device patterning.
• Photonic Components (SOI Nanophotonics) Research, development and low-volume production of silicon nanophotonic devices and circuits, covering single passive chips to 6-inch wafer processing with active devices and two-level metal interconnects.
• Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) Wide range of EBL processes for many different substrate types, substrate sizes and applications using electron beam lithography technology, achieving ~5 nm resolution in custom designs.
• Interference Lithography Two interference lithography systems for fabrication of extended high-quality fixed period gratings and flexible rapid prototyping on silicon, silicon dioxide and other substrates.
• Mastering Large area gratings fabricated by interference lithography enabling production of coherent periodic gratings with constant pitch.
• AMONIL® UV-Curing Resist Proprietary UV-curing resist developed for nanoimprint applications offering excellent combination of coating and imprint properties, profile accuracy and plasma stability; sold as a standalone material product.
• AMOPRIME Adhesion Promoter Matching adhesion promoter for AMONIL® designed to optimize application of UV-curing resist in nanoimprint processes.
• 2D Pilot Line Multi-Project Wafer Runs Multi-project wafer runs enabling customers to prototype graphene-based electronic devices and sensor architectures on wafer scale, supporting GFETs with local back-gate configuration on 1×1 cm² die sizes.
• Technology Transfer Services Transfer of research findings and technologies from laboratory to innovative applications for industry and academic research groups, including commercialization of developed technologies, know-how, and IP through licensing agreements.
• Education and Training Training programs for scientists and technicians in micro and nanotechnology, cleanroom operation, and nanofabrication techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to comprehensive graphene device fabrication capabilities from CVD growth through device patterning
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• IBM Research EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborative research partnership on graphene electronics and nanotechnology applications. IBM researchers have provided testimonials on successful collaborations.
• Infineon Technologies AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on semiconductor research and advanced materials development for next-generation electronics.
• micro resist technology GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership on resist technology and lithography materials for nanoimprint and other patterning processes.
• Protemics GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company from AMO that continues collaborative research relationship in nanotechnology and nanostructuring.
• AMOtronicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company focused on technology transfer and commercialization of research developments.
• Abbott Automation Solutions GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative automation and process development for nanotechnology applications.
• Graphene FlagshipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in the EU's 1 billion euro Graphene Flagship initiative coordinating graphene research across European academia and industry.
• 2D Pilot LineflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean pilot line for 2D materials-based electronics, coordinating pilot production capabilities across multiple partners.
• RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong institutional affiliation and collaborative research with RWTH Aachen's materials science and electrical engineering departments.
• Phantoms FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through nanotech research foundation for knowledge sharing and networking.
• VDI TechnologiezentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer and funding management partnership for collaborative research projects.
• VTTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Finnish technical research centre on nanotechnology applications.
• IHPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with IHP-Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics on semiconductor technology.
• Tyndall National InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration with Irish national institute for electronics and photonics.
• Forschungszentrum JülichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor German research center partnership on materials science and nanotechnology research.
• University of StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration on nanotechnology research and development.
• ETH ZurichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Swiss Federal Institute of Technology on research projects.
• IBM Research ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with IBM's Swiss research facility on advanced materials and devices.
• Philipps University MarburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for collaborative research in nanotechnology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amo-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 AMO GmbH