protemics

What protemics does

Protemics GmbH is a privately held German deep-technology company founded in 2014 as a spin-off from AMO GmbH and the Institute of Semiconductor Electronics at RWTH Aachen University. The company develops and manufactures proprietary Terahertz (THz) microprobe technology that enables contactless, non-destructive near-field imaging and material analysis at micron-scale resolution. Its core TeraSpike product family achieves spatial resolution up to λ/1000 with sub-picosecond temporal resolution and 2–3 orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than electro-optic probes — capabilities that exceed conventional far-field THz systems and all-electronic time-domain reflectometry by an order of magnitude.

The product portfolio spans components, sub-systems, and full systems, including TeraSpike microprobes (detectors, emitters, transceivers), TeraCube automated scanning systems (Scientific, M2, M2-R), the TeraLineX on-chip THz time-domain spectroscopy platform, GigaSpike Schottky-diode probes, and TeraBlast THz emitters, supported by SHG units, low-noise amplifiers, test targets, and protective housings. The technology rests on exclusively licensed patents from RWTH Aachen and AMO GmbH, with CEO Dr. Michael Nagel (PhD, 14 patents, 160+ publications, 4,000+ citations) and CTO Simon Sawallich driving continued IP and product expansion. Protemics operates an in-house 400 m² cleanroom and optical laboratory in Aachen that supports both product development and fee-based measurement services covering sheet resistance imaging, chip-package inspection, near-field imaging, and waveguide analysis.

Protemics runs a direct B2B sales model targeting semiconductor manufacturers, photovoltaic and display manufacturers, research institutions, pharmaceutical producers, and plastics/composites manufacturers. Revenue is generated through hardware product sales, custom technology development and consulting, measurement and inspection services, and component repair, all priced via quote-based contracts on a multi-year cadence. Go-to-market relies on industry conference participation (IRMMW-THz, Graphene, Laser World of Photonics), peer-reviewed scientific publications, and direct technical consultation. Named customers include Samsung Electronics, Sungkyunkwan University, the University of Florida's Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, ECN, Rolith, and Fraunhofer ILT.

Name

protemics

Legal name

Protemics GmbH

Website

https://protemics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Protemics GmbH is a German deep-tech company that develops proprietary Terahertz microprobe systems enabling micron-scale, contactless, non-destructive near-field imaging for semiconductor manufacturers, photovoltaic and display producers, research institutions, and advanced-materials inspection applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Terahertz Imaging Instruments

NAICS

Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Back-End/Advanced Packaging Equipment (Die Attach/Wire Bond/Flip-Chip/TCB) (HDAHAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wafer Services & Reclaim (Epitaxy, Thinning, Reclaim) (HDAHACAH), Foundry Platform & Design Enablement Services (PDK/DFM/Process Qualification) (HDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• THz microprobes
• Near-field imaging systems
• Non-destructive testing
• Photonic measurement instruments
• Terahertz spectroscopy

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of THz microprobes, scanning systems, sub-systems, THz emitters, Schottky-diode probes, low-noise amplifiers, and accessories. Products include TeraSpike detector/transceiver/emitter series, TeraCube systems, TeraLineX platforms, GigaSpike probes, TeraBlast emitters, and D-B series sub-systems.
2. Measurement and Inspection Services: In-house analytic services including sheet resistance imaging, fault-isolation measurements in chip-packages, THz near-field imaging measurements, and waveguide characterizations. Accompanied by data analysis and result reports.
3. Technology Development and Consulting: Custom microprobe technology development and fabrication, technology consulting, feasibility studies, on-site installation support, and training courses.
4. Component Repair and Maintenance: Component repair and maintenance services for existing customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Protemics develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary photoconductive terahertz (THz) near-field microprobe devices, integrated scanning imaging systems, and on-chip THz time-domain spectroscopy platforms for contactless, non-destructive inspection of semiconductors, photovoltaic/display thin films, and advanced materials. In addition to hardware sales, the company provides in-house measurement services (sheet resistance imaging, chip-package inspection, near-field imaging, waveguide analysis) along with technology consulting, feasibility studies, custom microprobe development, installation support, and training.

Product overview

Protemics develops and manufactures components, sub-systems, and full system solutions for high-resolution THz imaging applications. The product portfolio centers on proprietary TeraSpike near-field microprobe technology, which enables micron-scale resolution contactless measurements breaking conventional THz imaging limits. Core offerings include: (1) Scanning systems (TeraCube Scientific/M2/M2-R) for automated near-field imaging; (2) TeraSpike microprobes including detectors (TD-800-X, TD-800-Z, TD-1550-X series), emitters (TD-1550-Y-BF), and transceivers (TD-800-TR series) for THz generation/detection; (3) GigaSpike Schottky-diode probes for electronic sub-THz measurements; (4) TeraBlast bias-free THz emitters; (5) TeraLineX on-chip THz TDS platform; (6) TeraSpike Companion low-noise amplifiers; (7) Sub-systems (D-B1, D-B1-TR, D-B2) for system integration; and (8) Accessories including test targets, SHG-units, and protective housings. The company also provides fee-based measurement services for sheet resistance imaging, chip inspection, near-field imaging, and waveguide analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TeraCube Scientific
• TeraCube M2
• TeraCube M2-R
• TeraLineX (TLX) Ultra
• TeraSpike TD-800-TR Series (Transceivers)
• TeraSpike TD-800-X Series (Detectors)
• TeraSpike TD-800-Z Series (Detectors)
• TeraSpike TD-1550-X Series (Detectors)
• TeraSpike TD-1550-Y-BF (Emitter)
• GigaSpike
• TeraBlast
• TeraSpike Companion (LNA-40k-8E8)
• D-B1-TR Sub-system
• D-B1 Sub-system
• D-B2 Sub-system
• Sheet Resistance Imaging Service
• Chip-Package Inspection Service Fee-based in-house high-resolution time-domain reflectometry service with sub-picosecond resolution for fault isolation, packaging inspection, and on-chip THz device characterization.
• THz Near-field Imaging Service Fee-based in-house time-domain THz near-field imaging service with sub-wavelength spatial and sub-picosecond temporal resolution for metamaterials, plasmonic structures, sensor surfaces, and other research samples.
• THz Waveguide Analysis Service Fee-based in-house service providing spatially resolved measurements of guided THz modes on planar metal or dielectric fiber waveguides with low invasiveness and high sensitivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spatial resolution up to λ/1000 (sub-wavelength) — many orders of magnitude better than prior THz analytic methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Samsung ElectronicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Researchers at Samsung Electronics utilized key technology from Protemics GmbH to demonstrate the first-ever use of near-field THz time-domain spectroscopy for in-line inspection within a semiconductor fab environment. This groundbreaking achievement for semiconductor manufacturing was published in Nature Communications Engineering (2025), demonstrating dramatically improved speed and accuracy for identifying electrical defects during memory chip production.
• AMO GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtemics is a privately held spin-off from AMO GmbH (a research company) and the Institute of Semiconductor Electronics at RWTH Aachen University. AMO GmbH represents the foundational research base for the company's THz technology. The company was co-founded by researchers transitioning from AMO, with the core IP exclusively licensed from this institution.
• Institute of Semiconductor Electronics, RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtemics is a spin-off from the Institute of Semiconductor Electronics at RWTH Aachen University. The technology originated from two decades of THz research at this institute. Key co-founders (Dr. Michael Nagel, Simon Sawallich) have academic affiliations with this institute, with Dr. Nagel having worked in chief engineer position from 2004 and initiated technology transfer projects at AMO in 2011.
• Rolith, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on anti-counterfeiting technology development. Rolith developed invisible security labels using nanometer-scale structural differences affecting electrical characteristics. Protemics provides the THz microprobe 'key' for reading these invisible labels — the most efficient solution for sheet resistance imaging-based label read-out. Both companies cooperate on development of custom-specific end-user solutions, particularly for mobile electronics anti-counterfeiting in touch screen displays.
• Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on THz analytics for photovoltaic applications. In 2015, the world's first automated wafer analysis system based on Protemics' THz microprobe technology was successfully launched at ECN for advanced analysis of high-tech solar cells. Non-destructive THz testing was applied to unveil sheet resistance distributions and charge carrier dynamics in semiconductors and thin-film conductors.
• University of Florida - Florida Institute for Cybersecurity ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research at the University of Florida — a pioneer in developing new test methods for detecting security-relevant hardware modifications — installed and commissioned a TeraCube scanner system for chip integrity testing. This extends the capabilities for detecting security-relevant modifications in ICs or chip-packages.
• Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearchers from SKKU and collaborating partners reported a world-first success in resolving the spatio-temporal motion of chiral fermions with a direct measurement using Protemics' TeraSpike near-field microprobe technology. Results published in Science Advances (2022).
• Fraunhofer ILT (Institute for Laser Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study with Fraunhofer ILT (Aachen) demonstrating non-destructive detection of micron-scale air voids and inhomogeneity in laser weld seams, including in optically demanding polymers such as polypropylene, polyamide, and fiber-reinforced polymers. Combined Protemics' THz microprobe near-field imaging with Fraunhofer's laser processing expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Toptica Photonics: Toptica Photonics is a German manufacturer of laser-based THz systems and time-domain spectroscopy solutions, making it a direct competitor in THz measurement and imaging instrumentation. Both companies serve semiconductor and research customers with THz-based inspection tools.
• Menlo Systems: Menlo Systems is a leading German manufacturer of THz time-domain spectroscopy systems and femtosecond laser-based measurement tools. It directly competes with Protemics in providing THz measurement solutions to research and industrial customers.
• TeraView: TeraView is a UK-based specialist in THz imaging and spectroscopy solutions for industrial inspection and semiconductor applications. As a focused THz imaging company serving similar end markets, it is a direct competitor to Protemics.
• Zomega Terahertz: Zomega Terahertz is a US-based provider of THz time-domain spectroscopy and imaging solutions for research and industrial inspection. It directly competes with Protemics in THz instrumentation and near-field measurement products.

Broad incumbents

• Onto Innovation: Onto Innovation is a major semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment vendor serving advanced packaging and logic/foundry customers. It is a broad incumbent whose installed base and customer relationships create a barrier to entry for novel inspection technologies like Protemics' THz systems.
• Advantest: Advantest is a global leader in semiconductor test equipment, serving memory and logic chip manufacturers with both ATE and inspection solutions. It is a broad incumbent whose chip-package fault isolation capabilities partially overlap with Protemics' chip inspection value proposition.
• Bruker: Bruker is a major scientific instruments manufacturer with THz/near-field spectroscopy offerings used in materials research and analytical chemistry. It is a broad incumbent in analytical measurement instrumentation that competes with Protemics in research and analytical services segments.
• KLA Corporation: KLA is the dominant incumbent in semiconductor process control and inspection, with deep relationships across all leading fabs. While it does not specifically offer THz near-field tools today, it represents the established competitor that Protemics must displace or partner with for mainstream fab adoption.
• Hübner Photonics (formerly Coherent): Hübner Photonics offers THz and laser-based measurement systems as part of a broader photonics portfolio. It overlaps with Protemics in THz measurement instrumentation but is a much larger, multi-product company serving a wider customer base.

Emerging players

• FemtoMetrix: FemtoMetrix is an emerging player in ultrafast optical/THz-based metrology for semiconductor process control. It overlaps with Protemics in applying ultrafast measurement techniques to semiconductor inspection, though it focuses more on optical methods than THz near-field microprobes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about protemics