SmartTip

What SmartTip does

SmartTip B.V. was a Dutch nanotechnology company founded in 2003 and headquartered at the High Tech Factory in Enschede, Netherlands. The company specialized in MEMS-based microprobes and related instrumentation, with three core product lines: CIPT (Current In-Plane Tunneling) systems and probes for non-invasive characterization of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions in semiconductor applications; SPM (Scanning Probe Microscopy) probes including magnetic, chemical, microfluidic, and custom designs; and a nascent CryoTEM product line. Underlying technology centered on proprietary MEMS fabrication capabilities, enabling features such as 12-finger gold CIPT probe arrays with sub-700nm features, single-face magnetic Smart Coating, and SmartPack chemical probe packaging.

Name

SmartTip

Legal name

SmartTip B.V.

Website

https://smarttip.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SmartTip developed MEMS-based nanotechnology microprobes and CIPT measurement systems for semiconductor MTJ characterization and advanced scanning probe microscopy research, serving chipmakers and academic institutions before merging with Bruker Nederland B.V. in late 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nanotechnology Scientific Instruments

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAHAAAG

Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs)

SECONDARYHDAHALAK

Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Sensors, MEMS & Optoelectronics

SECONDARYHDAHALAJ

MEMS Actuators & Micro-Mechanisms (Micromirrors/Microfluidics)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Sensors, MEMS & Optoelectronics

SECONDARYIMAGAJAO

Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Electronic Components for Industrial Applications (Passive/active components, industrial-grade modules)

Keywords

• MEMS microprobes
• Scanning probe microscopy
• Magnetic tunnel junction characterization
• Chemical force microscopy probes
• Nanotechnology instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Enschede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CIPT Products: Revenue from Current In-Plane Tunneling products including CIPT probes, SmartProber instruments (TT and P1 models), and related measurement systems for characterizing Magnetic Tunnel Junctions in semiconductor applications.
2. SPM Probes: Sales of Scanning Probe Microscopy probes including Magnetic Probes, Chemical SPM Probes, Microfluidic Probes, and Special Probe Designs. Products include both standard offerings and custom-designed probes for unique applications.
3. CryoTEM Solutions: Future revenue stream for CryoTEM innovations. Currently under development with product page indicating updates coming soon.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SmartTip designs, manufactures, and sells MEMS-based nanotechnology microprobes and supporting characterization instruments for scientific research and the semiconductor industry. Its product lines include the CIPT (Current In-Plane Tunneling) measurement platform (SmartProber instruments and CIPT Probes) for non-invasive Magnetic Tunnel Junction characterization, a portfolio of specialized SPM probes (magnetic, chemical, microfluidic, and custom designs), and CryoTEM solutions under development.

Product overview

SmartTip offers a multi-product nanotechnology portfolio centered on MEMS-based microprobes and characterization technologies. The product lineup consists of three core product lines: (1) CIPT (Current In-Plane Tunneling) — a characterization method and product family including the SmartProber instrument and CIPT Probes for testing Magnetic Tunnel Junctions; (2) SPM Probes — a range of specialized scanning probe microscopy probes including Magnetic Probes (Smart Coated), Chemical SPM Probes (CFM), Microfluidic Probes, and Special Probe Designs; and (3) CryoTEM — cryogenic transmission electron microscopy products. The CIPT method serves as the primary measurement platform enabling non-invasive characterization, while SPM Probes provide specialized capabilities for magnetic, chemical, microfluidic, and custom applications. SmartTip leverages proprietary MEMS fabrication capabilities to design custom solutions for unique experiments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIPT (Current In-Plane Tunneling)
• SmartProber An instrument system for thin film stack characterization on a microscopic scale, supporting CIPT measurements and four-point probe measurements. Available in TT and P1 models for research and wafer mapping applications.
• CIPT Probes MEMS-based probes consisting of 12 in-line gold-covered probe fingers (electrodes), each approximately 10 µm long and 700 nm or less in width, designed for gentle contacts and local electrical measurements on tunnel junction samples.
• SPM Probes A selection of unique Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) probes for special applications, including magnetic probes, chemical SPM probes, microfluidic probes, and custom probe designs, leveraging MEMS capabilities for specialized experiments.
• Magnetic Probes (Smart Coated) Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) probes with Smart Coating technology applying magnetic coating on only one face of the pyramid, offering high magnetic resolution combined with improved AFM resolution. Available in hard magnetic (cobalt-based alloy) and soft magnetic (nickel-coated) variants.
• Chemical SPM Probes (CFM) Chemically activated probes for Chemical Force Microscopy (CFM) modified with specific functional groups using self-assembled monolayers of thiols on gold, shipped in SmartPack packaging for safe storage and shipping.
• Microfluidic Probes AFM-type cantilevers with integrated fluidic microchannels for local liquid dispensing and aspiration through submicron apertures at the probe tip, used for nanopatterning, ion conductance microscopy, patch clamp measurements, and cell injection.
• Special Probe Designs Custom-designed probes including tripod/trident probes for sidewall profile scanning, thermal and Hall sensor probes with pyramidal tips for temperature and magnetic imaging, in-plane AFM probes with MEMS integration, and membrane probes with electrostatic actuators for superlubricity.
• CryoTEM Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy innovations and products for advanced imaging at low temperatures. Listed product page indicates updates are coming soon, suggesting the line is in development.

Quantifiable outcome

• CIPT measurements greatly speed up development and testing compared to conventional techniques
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Bruker Nederland B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 December 2023As of December 29, 2023, SmartTip B.V. and Bruker Nederland B.V. legally merged. The combined entity continues under the name Bruker Nederland B.V. as of January 1, 2024. This merger integrates SmartTip's MEMS microprobe technology with Bruker's global scientific instrument infrastructure.
• Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Japan covering Section-1, Advanced Materials Department. Handles customer support, sales inquiries, and local distribution of SmartTip products in the Japanese market. Located in Tokyo with dedicated contact information for customer service.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Global scientific instruments major and now SmartTip's legal parent via the January 2024 merger. Overlaps directly in AFM/SPM probes and instruments and provides the global sales channel that distributes SmartTip's CIPT and SPM products.
• Keysight Technologies: Major electronic test and measurement vendor (oscilloscopes, parametric analyzers, wafer probers). Adjacent to SmartTip's CIPT electrical measurement use cases in semiconductor characterization.

Direct peers

• Oxford Instruments (Asylum Research): Leading AFM manufacturer selling Cypher and MFP-3D systems and proprietary probes. Directly comparable to SmartTip in serving advanced AFM/SPM users in materials and life sciences research.
• Park Systems: AFM instrument manufacturer with strong academic and semiconductor presence. Competes with SmartTip at the systems level and bundles its own probe consumables.
• NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments: SPM/AFM manufacturer offering instruments and a broad catalog of specialized probes. Directly comparable in target customers and product breadth to SmartTip's SPM probe line.
• Nanosensors: Specialist AFM probe vendor with deep catalog across standard and specialized tips. Closest direct competitor to SmartTip's magnetic, chemical, and custom MEMS probes.
• NanoWorld: AFM probe manufacturer serving the same academic and industrial SPM users as SmartTip, with overlapping specialty-tip SKUs.
• Mikromasch (now part of TipsNano): Long-established AFM probe manufacturer offering standard and custom silicon and silicon-nitride probes. Directly comparable to SmartTip's SPM probe catalog.
• BudgetSensors: High-volume, lower-cost AFM probe vendor. Competes with SmartTip in the standard SPM probe segment and exerts price pressure on the broader specialty probe market.

Emerging players

• Lake Shore Cryotronics: Provider of cryogenic and magnetic measurement instruments (Hall effect, vibrating sample magnetometry). Comparable to SmartTip's Hall/temperature sensor probe line and adjacent in MTJ/MRAM characterization workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SmartTip