GeSiM

What GeSiM does

GeSiM – Gesellschaft für Silizium-Mikrosysteme mbH, headquartered in Radeberg near Dresden, Germany, designs and manufactures modular bioinstruments and microfluidic devices for life-science research, in-vitro diagnostics, 3D bioprinting, and chemical synthesis. The company was founded in 1995 as a spin-off from the Rossendorf Research Center, and over 30 years has built a portfolio centered on piezoelectric non-contact dispensing (the Nano-Plotter microarrayer and 60-500 picolitre drop dispensers up to 1000 Hz), modular 3D bioprinters (BioScaffolder series for pneumatic, piston, and melt-electro-writing of hydrogels, alginate, PCL, and biopolymers), the BioSyntheSizer liquid-handling robot with up to seven independently moving Z-axes, the µContactPrinter for surface patterning and Nano-Imprint Lithography using patented PDMS stamp technology, the MicCell transparent flow-cell system with FluidProcessor, and a microfluidic-workstation benchtop robot. The company also offers contract microfluidic manufacturing services spanning silicon, glass, ceramics, and PDMS, including KOH/ASE/HF etching, PVD/PECVD deposition, anodic and fusion bonding, and wafer dicing up to 6-inch diameter.

GeSiM serves four primary use-case segments: life-sciences research and IVD diagnostics (including FDA-certified HPV and tumour-marker array production at customers such as Genetel Korea and Sunlant China), 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine (TU Dresden, FAU Erlangen, University of Otago, Bellaseno), microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip (Fraunhofer IWS, TissUse), and automated chemical synthesis (Leibniz IPF Dresden, TU Dresden B-Cube, McGill). Revenue is generated primarily through configured-to-order hardware sales (Nano-Plotter, BioScaffolder, BioSyntheSizer, µContactPrinter, MicCell, Microfluidic Workstation), professional engineering and customization services, and microfluidic device manufacturing. Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed; pre-sales feasibility tests, post-sales upgrades, and after-sales service are emphasized as differentiators.

Distribution is a hybrid direct-sales and channel model. GeSiM sells directly in Germany and to accounts without local representation, while 14+ international distributors cover North America (ScieCon), Australia/New Zealand (Bio-Strategy), China/Taiwan (Yizhi Technology, Cold Spring Biotech, Jiangsu Huaxinde, Genn Dih), France (Proteigene), Hungary (Bio-Science), India (MediSpec), Japan (BM Equipment), Korea (Bio-Medical Science), Singapore (Sciencescan), and UK/Ireland (Analytik). Marketing relies on industry conferences (LOPEC, TERMIS, Biofabrication, MEDICA), product-segmented newsletters, LinkedIn/YouTube/Facebook, peer-reviewed publications, and customer symposiums. The Managing Director is Dr.-Ing. Hendrik Fiehn; the company remains privately held and non-public with no disclosed external investors or subsidiaries.

Name

GeSiM

Legal name

GeSiM – Gesellschaft für Silizium-Mikrosysteme mbH

Website

https://gesim-bioinstruments-microfluidics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GeSiM is a privately held German manufacturer of modular bioinstruments and microfluidic devices serving life-science research, IVD diagnostics, 3D bioprinting, and chemical synthesis customers worldwide via direct sales and a 14+ distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific bioinstrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bioprinting & Biofabrication Systems (Tissue/Cell Printing Hardware) (IMAAAAAG), Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK), Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Microarray printing instruments
• 3D bioprinters
• Piezoelectric dispensing systems
• Microfluidic devices
• Liquid handling robots

Headquarters

HQ city

Radeberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrumentation and Equipment Sales: GeSiM generates revenue through the sale of specialized scientific instruments including microarray printers (Nano-Plotter series), bioprinters (BioScaffolder series), liquid handling robots (BioSyntheSizer), microcontact printers, and microfluidic systems. Instruments are sold directly and through international distributors. The company offers modular, configurable systems with post-sales upgrades and accessories, bridging research to production-scale use.
2. Engineering and Customization Services: GeSiM provides tailored solutions including microfluidics design and manufacturing, thin film services, bonding, wafer dicing, and customization of standard instruments. The company emphasizes feasibility tests and customer-specific configurations as part of its service model.
3. Microfluidic Device Manufacturing: GeSiM manufactures custom microfluidic devices from silicon, glass, ceramics, and PDMS using micromachining technologies. Products include foil-based microfluidic systems, sandwich structures, and multi-organ chips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GeSiM designs, manufactures and sells modular benchtop bioinstruments for non-contact microarray printing (Nano-Plotter series with piezoelectric silicon-glass pipetting tips), 3D bioprinting (BioScaffolder series for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine), automated liquid handling and chemical synthesis (BioSyntheSizer), surface patterning and Nano-Imprint Lithography (µContactPrinter), and microfluidic flow-cell systems (MicCell, Microfluidic Workstation with FluidProcessor and GeSiM Fluidics software). The instruments are configured to order with interchangeable tool heads, and the company also provides MEMS/microfluidic engineering services including etching, thin-film deposition, bonding and wafer dicing.

Product overview

GeSiM offers a modular portfolio of bioinstruments for microarray printing, 3D bioprinting, chemical synthesis, and microfluidics. The core product lines include the Nano-Plotter series for microarray/non-contact dispensing, µContactPrinter for surface patterning and NIL, BioScaffolder bioprinters for tissue engineering, BioSyntheSizer liquid handling robots, MicCell microscopy cells for microfluidics, and Microfluidic Workstation systems. All instruments share a modular, configurable architecture allowing customers to scale from research to production. The company also provides comprehensive microfluidic engineering services including design, manufacturing, thin film deposition, bonding, and wafer dicing. Products are available through international distributors and can be configured with tailored solutions including feasibility tests with customer materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nano-Plotter Microarray Printer Compact modular benchtop pipetting station using piezoelectric non-contact dispensing for nanolitre-scale functionalization of biochips, slides, NC-membranes and 96-well plates for IVD and point-of-care microarray production. Targeted at IVD diagnostic manufacturers and life-sciences research groups.
• Piezoelectric Dispensers Versatile piezoelectric drop dispensers emitting drops from 60 to 500 picolitres at frequencies up to 1,000 Hz, controlled via multi-dos units with an embedded API. Used by researchers and instrument builders as the dispensing engine for Nano-Plotter and third-party setups.
• µContactPrinter Modular instruments for surface patterning and Nano-Imprint Lithography using patented PDMS microcontact stamps. Models include µCP Core (cost-effective microscope accessory), µCP 4.3 (programmed stamp management), and µCP 6.3 (automated edge-on-edge prints). For research in surface chemistry, cell guidance, biosensors and NIL.
• BioScaffolder 3D Bioprinter Modular 3D bioprinter series for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, processing biocompatible materials including hydrogels, alginate, and thermoplastic biopolymers (e.g., PCL). Supports pneumatic extrusion, melt electro writing, and coaxial or multi-material prints across research (BS3.2, BS3.3) and production (BS5.1/E, BS5.3/E) scales.
• BioSyntheSizer Liquid Handling Robot Compact liquid handling robot with up to seven independently moving Z-axes, configured to order with piezoelectric picolitre pipettors, vial/tube handlers, reaction chambers, purification columns, and more. Suited for hydrogel synthesis, chemical/peptide synthesis in array format, and 3D bioprinting workflows.
• MicCell Flow-Cell System Versatile optically transparent flow-cell system for microfluidics on microscope stages. Includes PDMS-based channel plates, polycarbonate carriers, PDMS casting sets and microscope adapters. Supports do-it-yourself PDMS casting for affordable prototyping and combines with the FluidProcessor for automated microfluidic setups.
• Microfluidic Workstation (2-Level-Lab) Benchtop robot with a 'flying' work deck integrating a pipet robot, flow-through cells and phase-contrast microscope. Configurable for in-vitro tissue engineering, multi-cell cultivation, single-cell handling and microarraying of SBS well-plate formats and microfluidic cartridges, and fits inside biosafety cabinets.
• Microfluidic Design and Manufacturing Services Engineering services for the design and manufacturing of microfluidic devices (Multi-Organ Chips, flow-through cells, sandwich structures, foil-based microfluidics) in silicon, glass, ceramics and PDMS. Includes 3D structuring (KOH, ASE/Bosch, HF glass etching), thin-film coating (PVD, PECVD, screen printing), bonding (anodic, silicon fusion, adhesive) and wafer dicing up to 6-inch diameter.

Quantifiable outcome

• Piezoelectric drop dispensers emit drops from 60 picolitres to 500 picolitres at frequencies up to 1000 Hz.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yuri Lux GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025GeSiM is collaborating with Yuri Lux GmbH on the development of a compact bioprinter for automated operation on the International Space Station (ISS) or spacecraft during the period from 2025 to 2027. Zero gravity opens new possibilities for bioprinting applications including cell biology research in space.
• Fraunhofer ISITcoreTechnology or IntegrationGeSiM's Nano-Plotter was used in a biosensor technology project developed at Fraunhofer ISIT. The project involved label-free detection of biomolecules where the Nano-Plotter's camera system was used to deposit small but exact sample aliquots onto tiny areas of electronic chips.
• Fraunhofer IWS DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Fraunhofer IWS Dresden on multi-bioreactor chip development for organ-on-a-chip platforms. GeSiM contributed lithography, mask design, deep RIE etching process development, PDMS casting technology adaptation, and development of three-layer glass/silicon/glass sandwiches with embedded heater/sensor arrays. Also collaborated on foil-based multi-organ chip development.
• Fraunhofer IKTS DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeSiM collaborated with Fraunhofer IKTS Dresden on nanoplasmonic biosensor development for wastewater detection (BMBF project ANTHROPLAS). GeSiM supplied nanoimprint lithography for nanopillar arrays and foil-based microfluidic systems.
• CAM BioceramicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeSiM is collaborating with CAM Bioceramics (European leader in high-quality calcium phosphate powders and granulates) to adapt calcium phosphate powders for use on GeSiM's bioprinters. Validated printing parameters will be made available to researchers and developers. This bridges biomaterials expertise with precision bioprinting technology.
• ECOPLAS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeSiM is a partner in the ECOPLAS project (duration: 01.11.2024 – 31.10.2027, volume: 2.84 Mio EUR, funded under BMBF Quantentechnologische und photonische Systemlösungen). Consortium includes Fraunhofer IKTS, University Hospital Bonn (Institute for Hygiene and Public Health), Dresden Elektronik Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH, Emscher Wassertechnik GmbH, Abwasserverband Braunschweig, and ISOE. GeSiM supplies process and microsystems technology for near-real-time E. coli detection in freshwater.
• Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of a BioSyntheSizer configuration for automated synthesis of functional hydrogels for regenerative medicine, including conjugation of PEG with cysteine-containing peptides and heparin coupling.
• Kurt-Schwabe Institute MeinsbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on foil-based microfluidic flow cell development for detection of biological pollutants in wastewater using genetically modified yeast cells (BMBF project BIOSAM HIGS).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arrayjet: Arrayjet is a UK-based manufacturer of microarray printers (e.g., Super Marathon) using inkjet-style non-contact dispensing — directly comparable to GeSiM's Nano-Plotter in target customers (IVD, academic arrays) and underlying application.
• Micronit Microtechnologies: Micronit is a Dutch MEMS/microfluidics specialist offering custom microfluidic device design and wafer-level manufacturing — directly comparable to GeSiM's microfluidic engineering services (KOH/ASE etching, bonding, wafer dicing) for life-science and diagnostic OEMs.
• Dolomite Microfluidics (Blacktrace): Dolomite Microfluidics designs and manufactures microfluidic chips, flow cells, and system components — directly comparable to GeSiM's MicCell flow cells and microfluidic device services for organ-on-chip and life-science research customers.
• RegenHU: RegenHU is a Swiss manufacturer of modular multi-head 3D bioprinters (3DDiscovery, BioFactory) targeting tissue engineering and regenerative medicine — directly comparable to GeSiM's BioScaffolder line in customers (universities, regenerative medicine labs) and core functionality.
• Scienion (BICO): Scienion, now part of BICO, is the closest direct peer to GeSiM in non-contact microarray printing and picolitre dispensing for IVD and biosensor production; both compete head-to-head for DNA/protein microarray production accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Hamilton Company: Hamilton is a broad incumbent in precision liquid handling robotics and laboratory automation; comparable to GeSiM's BioSyntheSizer and Microfluidic Workstation at the system level, but with a vastly broader product portfolio and installed base.
• Tecan: Tecan is a broad incumbent in laboratory liquid handling and automated workstations; competes with GeSiM's BioSyntheSizer in pipetting/automation use cases for life science research and diagnostic workflows, though GeSiM's niche is much smaller and more customized.
• Cellink (BICO): Cellink (BICO) is the largest dedicated bioprinting/bioconvergence platform with broad hardware, bioinks, and consumables — overlapping with GeSiM's BioScaffolder but competing with much greater scale, consumables revenue, and a global commercial footprint.

Emerging players

• Microfluidic Chipshop: Microfluidic Chipshop supplies standard and custom microfluidic chips and cartridges, including those referenced as GeSiM integration-compatible; an emerging/regional player with partial overlap to GeSiM's microfluidics segment, particularly in lab-on-chip consumables.
• Aspect Biosystems: Aspect Biosystems builds microfluidic 3D bioprinting platforms for tissue therapeutics; an emerging player with partial overlap to GeSiM's BioScaffolder and microfluidic workstation capabilities, but with a stronger therapeutic-tissue focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbZnI5_FOUdUpRZQadlLjLQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pg/GeSiM-Silizium-Mikrosysteme-2177134529242804
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesim-mbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 GeSiM