Bionic Surface Technologies

What Bionic Surface Technologies does

Bionic Surface Technologies GmbH (BST), headquartered in Graz, Austria, is a private R&D and engineering services company founded in 2008 by Peter Leitl and Andreas Flanschger, both alumni of the TU Graz Racing Team. The company develops and commercializes Riblet surface technology — nano- and micro-structures inspired by shark skin that reduce fluid-dynamic drag — offered as three manufacturing modalities: Riblet film, direct laser riblets, and Riblet coating. BST's Riblet technology is backed by a patented calculation algorithm, Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) capability, and a 1024-node HPC computing center spanning 800m², which the company describes as one of Austria's largest CFD installations.

BST operates a hybrid product-and-services business model. The product line is custom-engineered per application (with no public pricing), sold through a structured three-step process and direct B2B engagement with technical sales engineers. Complementary revenue streams include CFD/multiphysics engineering services (biomedical, energy, plant & mechanical engineering, processes, pulp & paper, transport) and publicly-funded research under programs such as Horizon 2020 (NeGeMi, R2R), Produktion der Zukunft (Optiflow 3D, Hydrochip 2), Eureka, and Take Off. Customers include Lufthansa Technik AG, Nikon Corporation, ANDRITZ AG, Red Bull, General Electric, and Fraunhofer, spanning aviation MRO, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, motorsport, and biomedical segments.

The company employs approximately 20 staff — primarily specialized engineers with MSc/PhD credentials — and pursues a sales-led, event-driven GTM anchored in direct enterprise engagement, peer-reviewed conference presence (AIAA SCITECH, ASME Turbo Expo), and co-development partnerships with TU Graz and European research institutions. Documented customer outcomes include up to 4% theoretical / 3% real-world fuel savings on commercial aircraft, up to 3% efficiency gains in industrial fans, and lap-time improvements in professional motorsport.

Name

Bionic Surface Technologies

Legal name

bionic surface technologies GmbH

Website

https://bionicsurface.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bionic Surface Technologies is an Austrian R&D firm that develops shark-skin-inspired Riblet surface technology and CFD engineering services to reduce fluid-dynamic drag for aviation, industrial, motorsport, and biomedical clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drag Reduction Surface Engineering

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Radomes & Composite/Aero Protective Structures (IMABAEAG)

Keywords

• Drag reduction technology
• Riblet surface engineering
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Aerodynamic optimization services
• Surface texture solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

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

Revenue model

1. Riblet Surface Products: BST generates revenue through the sale of tailored Riblet solutions including Riblet films (self-adhesive films), direct laser riblets (laser-ablated surfaces), and Riblet coatings. Products are custom-engineered per application with the customer defining the application and BST providing the optimized surface solution.
2. CFD Engineering Services: BST provides computational fluid dynamics analysis and simulation services to industrial clients across multiple sectors including biomedical, energy, plant & mechanical engineering, processes, pulp & paper, and transport. Services include flow simulations, system optimization, and analytical engineering.
3. Research & Development: BST conducts publicly-funded research projects (e.g., Horizon 2020, Take Off, Produktion der Zukunft, Eureka) and self-funded R&D to advance Riblet technology, generating revenue through grants and partnerships while building intellectual property.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bionic Surface Technologies (BST) develops and engineers biomimetic Riblet surface solutions (films, direct laser-ablated riblets, and coatings) that reduce fluid-dynamic drag on aircraft, industrial fans, turbomachinery, and motorsport vehicles. The company complements these physical products with CFD/multiphysics engineering services and in-house Riblet testing, enabling tailored drag-reduction solutions for industrial clients.

Product overview

Bionic Surface Technologies offers a portfolio of Riblet-based drag reduction products and CFD engineering services. The core products include Riblet Films (reproducible shark-skin-inspired surface textures), Direct Laser Riblets (precision laser-applied microstructures), and Riblet Coatings (durable surface treatments). These products are complemented by comprehensive CFD Engineering/Multiphysics simulation services and in-house testing facilities. The company leverages a patented calculation algorithm and CFD simulation expertise to determine optimal Riblet structures for diverse applications across aviation, motorsports, industrial fans, and energy sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• riblets.at: Online portal for Riblet engineering and manufacturing solutions, including Riblet film, direct laser riblets, and Riblet coating products.

Products and services

• Riblet Film Reproducible, shark-skin-inspired surface film with patented Riblet texture applied to aircraft, fans, or motorsport surfaces to reduce fluid-dynamic drag. Sold to enterprise customers as a tailored solution.
• Direct Laser Riblets Riblet microstructures applied directly onto a surface via laser technology, enabling precise, durable drag-reducing textures on customer components.
• Riblet Coating Durable coating-based Riblet application method that imparts drag-reducing microstructures to industrial and commercial surfaces.
• CFD Engineering / Multiphysics Services Computational Fluid Dynamics and multiphysics simulation services covering flow modeling, system optimization, and analytical engineering for industrial clients across multiple sectors.
• Riblet Testing Services In-house test facilities offering rotating Riblet test rig evaluation, wear and damage assessment, and surface texture performance validation for aviation, industrial, and motorsport customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 4% fuel consumption reduction for aircraft with optimally calculated Riblets; up to 3% real-world fuel savings achieved with Lufthansa Technik on Boeing 747-400
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nikon CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023BST and Nikon Corporation announced a development cooperation in February 2023. The partnership combines Nikon's precision patterning capabilities with BST's Riblet technology to enhance system efficiency and conserve energy. Nikon Corporate Vice President Yuichi Shibazaki noted alignment between BST's vision and Nikon's commitment to creating value in novel fields.
• Lufthansa Technik AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015BST and Lufthansa Technik conducted a collaborative research project in 2015 to investigate Riblet technology on a Boeing 747-400 provided by Lufthansa Airlines. The partnership involved extensive CFD simulations, Riblet design optimization for different operating conditions, and experimental evaluation through BST's certified Riblet test rig. The project demonstrated real-world fuel savings of up to 3% and achieved certification-relevant testing for aviation application, including assessment of wear and defect criticality.
• Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST collaborates with Joanneum Research in multiple EU-funded research projects including NeGeMi (Next Generation Microfluidics, Horizon 2020) and R2R (Roll-to-roll biofluidics, H2020). Joanneum Research is a key Austrian research partner in BST's microfluidics and biomedical research initiatives.
• Technische Universität Graz (TU Graz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST was founded by TU Graz Racing Team members Peter Leitl and Andreas Flanschger and maintains ongoing collaboration with TU Graz through multiple research projects (Ariadne, IDOMENEO, EisenerZ, RELAM) and joint publications. BST also sources talent from TU Graz.
• Vattenfall / Nuon Solar Team (Delft University of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST supported the Vattenfall-sponsored Nuon Solar Team from Delft University of Technology at the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge by equipping the NunaX solar vehicle with BST's sharkskin Riblet foil — the first-ever application of Riblet technology on a solar vehicle.
• Lithoz GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST partners with Lithoz GmbH in the Optiflow 3D project (Produktion der Zukunft program), focusing on optimized hydrodynamic flow behavior through selective surface structuring of ceramic 3D-printed rotodynamic blood pumps for pediatric patients.
• General ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Electric is listed among BST's clients/references, with collaboration spanning Germany, India, and USA operations, suggesting involvement in turbomachinery or energy-related CFD projects.
• BiFlow Systems GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST collaborates with BiFlow Systems GmbH in the NeGeMi (Horizon 2020) project focused on next-generation microfluidics, alongside other European partners including GENSPEED Biotech, TECNALIA, and Micronit Microtechnologies.
• Red Bull GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST provided CFD expertise and Riblet technology for the Red Bull Tunnel Pass project with stunt pilot Dario Costa in September 2021. BST conducted one year of simulations and provided Riblet surfaces as a safety feature for turbulence compensation, helping achieve 4 world records.
• GENSPEED Biotech GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST collaborates with GENSPEED Biotech in the NeGeMi (Horizon 2020) and Hydrochip 2 (Produktion der Zukunft) projects for design optimization of microfluidic channels in medical diagnostics systems.
• Medizinische Universität WienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBST partners with Medizinische Universität Wien (Medical University of Vienna) in the Optiflow 3D project for development of ceramic 3D-printed blood pumps with optimized surface structures for improved hemocompatibility.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany) is listed among BST's clients/references, suggesting collaboration on research or CFD engineering projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Convergent Science: Convergent Science develops the CONVERGE CFD solver used heavily in engine and propulsion applications, addressing the same aerospace and energy customers that BST targets with its riblet and CFD services.
• Cadence Design Systems (NUMECA): Cadence's NUMECA division specializes in turbomachinery CFD (FINE/Turbo), directly comparable to BST's turbomachinery and turbine-center-frame work for clients such as ANDRITZ and GE.

Direct peers

• Sharklet Technologies: Sharklet Technologies develops microstructured surface patterns inspired by shark skin for drag, fouling, and biofilm control. It is the closest direct biomimetic-surface-technology peer to BST's riblet films and shares the same underlying physical principle.

Broad incumbents

• ANSYS: ANSYS is the dominant commercial CFD/multiphysics software vendor (Fluent, CFX) used across aviation, turbomachinery, and biomedical industries — directly comparable to BST's CFD engineering services offering, but at vastly broader scale and via software licensing.
• Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA): Dassault Systèmes' SIMULIA brand delivers CFD and multiphysics simulation (XFlow, PowerFLOW) for aerospace and industrial flows. It is a broad incumbent in the same CFD services space that BST addresses for its enterprise customers.
• Siemens Digital Industries (Simcenter / CD-adapco): Siemens Simcenter, incorporating the former CD-adapco STAR-CCM+ technology, is a leading CFD platform for aerospace and turbomachinery. It competes with BST's CFD service offering and overlaps with the industrial/energy verticals BST serves.
• Altair Engineering: Altair provides CFD and multiphysics simulation software (ultraFluidX, AcuSolve) widely used in aerospace and motorsport — the same verticals where BST delivers CFD engineering and riblet testing.
• 3M: 3M is a major supplier of aerospace adhesive films and surface-treatment materials. BST's Riblet films and coatings compete against and complement 3M's portfolio of aircraft-applied surface products for drag and corrosion control.
• Henkel (Aerospace Surface Treatment): Henkel supplies aerospace surface-treatment chemistries, coatings, and films used on aircraft exteriors and components, putting it in an adjacent product category to BST's riblet coatings and films.

Others

• Lufthansa Technik: Lufthansa Technik is both a BST customer (Boeing 747-400 riblet research) and an aerospace MRO ecosystem participant. It is thematically comparable as a developer and integrator of aerodynamic-performance retrofits on commercial aircraft.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bionic-surface-technologies-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Bionic Surface Technologies