FELMI-ZFE Institut für Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoanalytik

What FELMI-ZFE Institut für Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoanalytik does

FELMI-ZFE is an Austrian research institute jointly operating as the Austrian Centre for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis. It combines FELMI, an institute within TU Graz's Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Geodesy, with ZFE, a non-profit non-university research institute operated by the Association for Electron Microscopy and Fine Structure Research. Founded in 1951 and headquartered at Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, the organization employs 11–50 staff and serves academic researchers and industrial clients across nine defined industry branches: semiconductors (ICT), environmental analysis, paper and fibers, pharmaceuticals, metals/alloys/3D printed materials, ceramics, polymers and soft matter, energy materials, and automotive.

The institute's core product is advanced electron microscopy and nanoanalysis services delivered through a fleet of instruments including the aberration-corrected Titan cubed 60-300 (ASTEM), SEM, FIB, AFM, vibrational spectroscopy (IR/Raman), and the newly installed MYRIAD multi-ion beam microscope. Specialized capabilities include 3D-FEBID mask-less nanoprinting with sub-10 nm feature resolution (protected by US Patent 11454648), in-situ TEM heating, correlative Raman/EDS mapping with ML-supported phase identification, ultramicrotomy sample preparation, and a proprietary MATLAB-based Spectrum Image Analysis Tool. Strategic research programs include the Christian Doppler Laboratory CDL DEFINE (2018–2025, GETec Microscopy GmbH and Anton Paar GmbH) and the institute's role as Austria's national node in the ESTEEM3 Horizon 2020 European TEM network.

The revenue model blends three streams: fee-based industry services across the nine KAM branches, publicly funded R&D projects (FFG, EFRE, FWF, Christian Doppler Gesellschaft, Horizon 2020), and training courses such as the Ultramicrotomy Training School (€1,350 per participant, capped at 8 per cohort) and the European EELS & EFTEM School. GTM is sales-led via dedicated KAM contacts per industry branch, complemented by event-driven outreach (webinars, MAT DAYS, Paper Bioeconomy Conference) and a publications-driven academic channel. The institute maintains EN ISO 9001:2015 certification (since 2004) and is a member of Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR), which has recognized it with multiple innovation awards (Houska 2020, ACR Innovationspreis 2021, ACR Start-Up Preis 2023, ACR WOMAN Award 2025).

Name

FELMI-ZFE Institut für Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoanalytik

Legal name

Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis of the TU Graz (FELMI) / Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy (ZFE Graz)

Website

https://felmi-zfe.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FELMI-ZFE is an Austrian research institute providing electron microscopy and nanoanalysis services to academic and industrial clients across nine industry branches, operating advanced instruments including the aberration-corrected ASTEM Titan cubed 60-300 and the newly installed MYRIAD multi-ion beam microscope.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electron Microscopy Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metrology & Dimensional Measurement (CMMs, laser trackers, gauges, surface/roughness) (IMAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Electron microscopy services
• Nanoanalysis and characterization
• Materials characterization
• 3D nanoprinting
• Transmission electron microscopy

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

Revenue model

1. Industry Services: Contract work and analysis services for industrial partners across defined industry branches including semiconductors, environmental analysis, paper/fibers, pharmaceuticals, metals/alloys, ceramics, polymers, energy materials, and automotive sectors.
2. Research & Development Projects: Collaborative long-term research projects funded by Austrian and European funding organisations including FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, and Horizon 2020.
3. Training Courses and Workshops: Fee-based educational programs including Ultramicrotomy Training School (€1350 per participant) and European EELS & EFTEM School, targeting scientists, engineers and technicians.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FELMI-ZFE provides advanced electron microscopy and nanoanalysis services to academic and industrial clients, operating world-class instrumentation including aberration-corrected TEM (ASTEM Titan cubed 60-300), SEM, FIB, and AFM for materials characterization at micro-to-atomic scale. The institute also delivers contract research, training schools (EELS & EFTEM School, Ultramicrotomy Training School), and runs the Christian Doppler Laboratory CDL DEFINE focused on 3D nano-probes.

Product overview

FELMI-ZFE is an Austrian Centre for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis that operates as a joint institute combining FELMI (Institute of Electron Microscopy at TU Graz) and ZFE (Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy). The organization provides a comprehensive suite of electron microscopy and nanoanalysis services centered around major instruments: aberration-corrected TEM (ASTEM Titan cubed 60-300), SEM, FIB, AFM, and vibrational spectroscopy (IR/Raman). Supporting infrastructure includes sample preparation facilities (FIB, Nanomill, ultramicrotomy) and specialized software tools like the MATLAB-based Spectrum Image Analysis Tool. The institute operates specialized research programs including the CDL DEFINE for 3D nanoprinting via FEBID, and hosts the uniquely configured MYRIAD multi-ion beam microscope. Educational offerings include the European EELS & EFTEM School and Ultramicrotomy Training School. Key industry service branches cover semiconductors, environmental analysis, paper/fibers, pharmaceuticals, metals/alloys, ceramics, polymers, energy materials, and automotive sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDL DEFINE: Christian Doppler Laboratory for Direct Fabrication of 3D Nano-Probes - focused on 3D-FEBID nanoprobe technology for AFM applications
• ASTEM
• European EELS & EFTEM School

Products and services

• Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis Services Contract analysis using TEM, SEM, FIB, AFM, and IR/Raman instrumentation for materials characterization at micro-to-atomic scale, delivered to industrial and academic clients.
• CDL DEFINE — Christian Doppler Laboratory for 3D Nano-Probes Research laboratory focused on 3D nano-probes, combining 3D-FEBID nanoprinting with advanced electron microscopy for the development of nanoscale functional structures.
• 3D-FEBID Nanoprinting Service Direct-write 3D nanoprinting using Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition to fabricate functional nanostructures with sub-10 nm precision for industrial and academic users.
• EELS & EFTEM School Training program covering Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and Energy-Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy (EFTEM) techniques for academic and industrial practitioners.
• Ultramicrotomy Training School Training program on ultramicrotomy sample preparation techniques for transmission electron microscopy, delivered to academic and industrial participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sub-10 nm feature resolution achieved in 3D nanoprinting
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Anton Paar GmbHsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Graz-based analytical instruments company with own AFM portfolio. Joined CDL DEFINE in 2019 for development of high-resolution gold tips for TERS (Tip Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy). Discontinued AFM product line in 2022, ending participation in CDL.
• GETec Microscopy GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018Vienna-based company specializing in compact Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) designed for integration in SEM, FIB, and Dual Beam Microscopes. Core industrial partner in CDL DEFINE for development and commercialization of 3D-FEBID nanoprobes. Partner company leverages AFM systems with unique selling points enabled by FELMI-ZFE technology.
• TU GrazcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraz University of Technology - primary institutional host for FELMI (Institute of Electron Microscopy). FELMI is part of Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Geodesy. Provides institutional infrastructure and support.
• University of GrazsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAWI Faculty partnership combining TU Graz and University of Graz for natural sciences. Shared research infrastructure and collaborative projects.
• Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Austrian research institutes providing collaborative research support, awards (ACR Start-Up Preis, ACR Innovationspreis, ACR WOMAN Award), and networking opportunities for member institutions.
• ESTEEM3 ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon 2020 project (Grant agreement No. 823717) bringing together leading European TEM laboratories. FELMI-ZFE represents Austria as national node, providing access to advanced TEM instrumentation for European researchers.
• BRAVE AnalyticssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian startup developing novel technology for dynamic characterization of nano-particles. Joint winner of ACR Start-Up Preis 2023 with ZFE. Active collaboration in nano-particle analysis technology.
• Borkenstein & BorkensteinsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical practice specializing in cataract surgeries. Research cooperation with FELMI-ZFE on intraocular lens (IOL) analysis. Winner of ACR Innovationspreis 2021 for research on YAG laser defects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Global analytical instruments company with electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping materials characterization instrumentation and related services across FELMI-ZFE's customer industries.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global leader in electron microscopy instruments (formerly FEI) with extensive service and application lab networks. Comparable as a dominant commercial provider whose TEM/SEM products and service offerings represent the principal alternative to FELMI-ZFE's analytical capabilities.
• TESCAN: Czech-based electron and ion beam microscope manufacturer with global service network. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering FIB/SEM instrumentation directly overlapping with FELMI-ZFE's characterization service capabilities.
• JEOL: Japanese electron microscope manufacturer with strong TEM/SEM product portfolio and application support. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering competing instrumentation and technical services in the same analytical microscopy market.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: German microscopy and optics leader with electron and ion beam product lines (Crossbeam family). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose electron microscopy solutions compete with the type of capabilities FELMI-ZFE offers to its customer base.

Direct peers

• Forschungszentrum Jülich: German national research center with major electron microscopy facilities serving materials science, energy, and information technology. Directly comparable as a publicly funded European research center combining fundamental research with industry service offerings.
• Fraunhofer Society (selected institutes): German applied research organization with institutes operating electron microscopy services for industry. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research network offering contract research and characterization services across multiple industry verticals.
• Max Planck Institute for Materials Research: German non-university research organization with state-of-the-art electron microscopy capabilities. Comparable as a peer research institute with high-end TEM instrumentation and academic-industrial materials characterization services.
• EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Swiss federal research institute performing materials characterization with advanced electron microscopy. Comparable as a publicly funded European materials research center operating industry services alongside academic research, similar in scale and mission to FELMI-ZFE.
• CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology: Central European research consortium with strong electron microscopy infrastructure serving materials and life sciences research. Directly comparable to FELMI-ZFE as a regional EM center offering similar TEM/SEM characterization services to academic and industrial users.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/35638157/admin
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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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