INESC MN

What INESC MN does

INESC MN (INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias) is a Lisbon-based private research institute founded in January 2002 as a spin-off from the Solid State Technology group of INESC, specializing in micro- and nanotechnologies applied to electronic, photonic, biological, and biomedical devices. The institute operates a 200 m² class 10/100 cleanroom, 200 m² grey area (class 10,000), and 170 m² of laboratory space supporting 200 mm wafer processing, thin film deposition (PVD and CVD), lithography down to 30 nm resolution, and post-processing packaging. Its six research groups cover Spintronics and Magnetic Biosensors, Thin Film MEMS and BioMEMS, Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, Advanced Sensors Interfaces and Circuits (ASIC), Organic Electronics, and Multimode Photonics.

The institute's commercial and research portfolio includes magnetoresistive sensors (TMR, GMR, AMR), standardized microfluidic and organ-on-chip devices, magnetic cytometry biochips with 103 CFU/mL sensitivity and 20-minute time-to-result, thin-film silicon photosensors, spatiotemporal meta-optics, and advanced thin films. INESC MN generates revenue through a mix of public research grants (FCT, PRR, Horizon Europe, MSCA, Chips Joint Undertaking, NextGenerationEU), contract research and microfabrication services billed through a four-tier pricing structure (Foreign Companies, Foreign Universities, National Companies, National Universities), and open-access facility use via European research infrastructures (NFFA-Europe, EuroNanoLab, RIANA). Customers include Portuguese and international academic institutions plus industrial partners in semiconductors (Thales, Infineon), biomedical technology (CardioID), and pharmaceutical (2M Pharma) sectors, with the institute also co-leading EU flagship projects SPIN-CHIP and SPARK and serving as convener of ISO/TC 48/WG 3 for microfluidic device standardization.

INESC MN operates under a non-profit research and technology organization structure, certified as a Portuguese Technology and Innovation Interface (CTI) by ANI, with close institutional ties to Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) at Universidade de Lisboa and the wider INESC network including INESC Brussels HUB. Leadership is provided by Paulo Freitas (President and Executive Director; PhD Carnegie Mellon 1986; 500+ publications; former INL Deputy Director General 2008–2024) and Susana Cardoso (Director and Executive Director; IST Full Professor since 2014).

Name

INESC MN

Legal name

INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias

Website

https://inesc-mn.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

INESC MN is a Lisbon-based private research institute specializing in micro- and nanotechnologies, including magnetoresistive sensors, microfluidic and organ-on-chip devices, biochips, and thin-film deposition on 200 mm wafers, serving academic institutions and industrial partners across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Micro and Nanotechnology Research Services

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom/ASIC & Foundry-Adjacent IDM Services (HDAHAAAL), Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO), MEMS Actuators & Micro-Mechanisms (Micromirrors/Microfluidics) (HDAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Microfabrication services
• Nanofabrication research
• Thin film deposition
• Magnetoresistive sensors
• Microfluidic devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisboa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Public Funding: INESC MN operates as a research institute primarily funded through public sources including FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), PRR (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência), EU funding (NextGenerationEU, Chips Joint Undertaking, Horizon Europe/MSCA), and national programs such as the Microelectronics Agenda. Funding covers collaborative R&D projects and doctoral networks.
2. Contract Research and Fabrication Services: INESC MN provides micro and nanofabrication services to national and international academic and industry partners, including collaborative design, prototyping, and small batch wafer production. Services include advanced material development, thin film deposition, lithography, patterning, packaging, and characterization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

INESC MN is a private research institute specializing in micro- and nanotechnologies applied to electronic, photonic, biological and biomedical devices. The institute provides collaborative research, contract research, prototyping, small-batch wafer fabrication, and open access to its cleanroom facilities. Its portfolio spans magnetoresistive sensors, thin film deposition, lithography, etching, microfluidics, biochips, and standardized lab-on-chip/organ-on-chip platforms.

Product overview

INESC MN operates as a research institute focused on micro- and nanotechnologies, offering specialized services and technologies rather than a unified commercial product. The institute provides a portfolio of specialized offerings including magnetoresistive sensors, thin film silicon photosensors, 200mm wafer processing services, advanced thin films deposition, standardized microfluidic devices, and biochips for magnetic cytometry. These offerings are organized around six research groups: Spintronics and Magnetic Biosensors, Thin Film MEMS and BioMEMS, Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, Advanced Sensors Interfaces and Circuits (ASIC), Organic Electronics, and Multimode Photonics. Services encompass open access to facilities, fabrication and characterization services, industrial partnerships, and startup support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Magnetoresistive Sensors Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors utilizing Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR), Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR), and Anisotropic Magnetoresistance (AMR) technologies for industrial, automotive, consumer electronics, and life-sciences applications including magnetic field sensing, biosensors, and lab-on-chip systems.
• Thin Film Silicon Photosensors Photodiode and photoconductor sensors with external quantum efficiencies above 0.1 from 200 to 700 nm, response times in the microsecond range, compatible with post-CMOS processing and flexible substrates.
• 200 mm Wafer Processing Microfabrication services for 200mm wafers including thin film deposition, lithography, patterning, characterization, and post-processing device packaging for pre-production stages.
• Advanced Thin Films Comprehensive thin-film deposition and processing technologies using PVD (magnetron sputtering, ion beam deposition) and CVD (PECVD) techniques for magnetic materials, dielectrics, metals, and semiconductors on substrates up to 200mm diameter.
• Standardized Microfluidic Devices Standardized microfluidic devices for Lab-on-a-Chip and Organ-on-Chip technologies featuring precise fluid control, miniaturization, high throughput capabilities, and reduced sample and reagent volumes for healthcare diagnostics, drug discovery, personalized medicine, environmental monitoring, and agricultural analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Magnetic sensor sensitivity range: pT to mT; Temperature resilience up to 200°C; Device sizes down to nm scale
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ThalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Thales coordinates the SPIN-CHIP project funded by Chips Joint Undertaking. INESC MN co-leads the Sensors Work Package with Infineon and coordinates the Portuguese consortium including BeyondVision, INL, and CardioID. Project focuses on Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) for next-generation EU semiconductor technologies.
• InfineoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Infineon co-leads the Sensors Work Package with INESC MN in the SPIN-CHIP project, focused on MTJs for energy-efficient semiconductor technologies targeting memory, AI, sensor, and RF applications.
• BeyondVisionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Portuguese SME partner in the SPIN-CHIP Portuguese consortium, contributing to the development of spintronic technologies for semiconductor applications.
• International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Portuguese research organization partner in the SPIN-CHIP Portuguese consortium, contributing expertise in nanotechnology for semiconductor and quantum technology applications.
• CardioIDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Portuguese company partner in the SPIN-CHIP Portuguese consortium focused on biomedical applications of microelectronics.
• TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU/e coordinates the SPARK — Spatiotemporal photonic technologies MSCA Doctoral Network, awarded €4.5 million. Prof. Marco Piccardo leads INESC MN's contribution (€0.6 million) on vectorial and inverse-designed metasurfaces. The consortium brings together 7 principal investigators across 6 European countries.
• SPARK Consortium (7 European institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners include TU/e (NL), UMU (Sweden), UPNA (Spain), UAM (Spain), UNamur (Belgium), Imperial College London (UK), and 10 non-academic partners in photonics. Project focuses on spatiotemporal metamaterials, structured light, ultrafast optics, and nanophotonics for 48 months training 15 doctoral candidates.
• NFFA – Europe Research InfrastructurecoreTechnology or IntegrationINESC MN is a member of NFFA – Europe, providing open-access to resources and advanced facilities for users from both academia and industry to carry out multidisciplinary research at the nano and microscale.
• EuroNanoLabcoreTechnology or IntegrationEuropean network providing open-access to INESC MN's nanofabrication facilities for users from academia and industry across Europe.
• Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, ULisboa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINESC MN was established from the Solid State Technology group of INESC and maintains close ties with IST-Lisbon, providing advanced training at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. Many INESC MN researchers hold faculty positions at IST.
• INL (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINL co-organized EUROoCS 2026 Annual Meeting with INESC MN, I3S, and Universidade de Aveiro, bringing together leading researchers from academia, industry, clinical research and regulatory bodies in organ-on-chip technologies.
• INESC (Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINESC MN is part of the INESC national research institute network. INESC MN was established in January 2002 from the former Solid State Technology group of INESC.
• INESC Brussels HUBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerINESC Brussels HUB bridges knowledge production and knowledge uptake across frontiers, helping INESC MN connect with European funding and policy networks.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imec: Belgian semiconductor and nanoelectronics RTO with advanced 200 mm/300 mm pilot lines. Highly comparable as a European applied research institute offering contract research, prototyping, and small-batch production in micro/nanofabrication and sensor technologies, but at significantly larger scale.
• CEA-Leti: French micro/nanotechnology RTO operating a 200 mm and 300 mm cleanroom with deep expertise in MEMS, sensors, and semiconductor process technology. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded European applied research institute serving similar academic and industrial customers in micro/nanofabrication.
• CSEM: Swiss RTO specializing in micro/nanotechnologies, MEMS, sensors, and system integration with similar cleanroom infrastructure and contract research model. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded European applied research institute serving biomedical, industrial, and semiconductor customers.
• Tyndall National Institute: Irish semiconductor and micro/nano research institute with deep expertise in MEMS, photonic systems, and semiconductor process integration. Comparable as a publicly-funded European RTO offering contract research and microfabrication services for academic and industrial users.
• International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL): Iberian intergovernmental nanotechnology research lab based in Braga, Portugal, with which INESC MN partners in the SPIN-CHIP consortium. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded Iberian RTO focused on nanotechnologies, sensors, and microfabrication services.
• Fraunhofer (IIS, IZM, IPMS): German applied research organization with multiple institutes (IZM, IPMS, IIS, ENAS) focused on MEMS, sensors, microelectronics, and photonic integration. Closely comparable as a publicly-funded RTO providing contract research and prototyping services for industry across MEMS, sensors, and wafer-level packaging.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with microelectronics, MEMS, and sensor research programs. Comparable as a publicly-funded European RTO offering contract research and pilot fabrication across micro/nano technologies, sensors, and photonics.

Emerging players

• Everspin Technologies: US-based standalone MRAM and spintronic memory company leveraging MTJ technology similar to INESC MN's research focus. Comparable in underlying TMR/MTJ expertise, but operates as a commercial product company in MRAM rather than as an applied research institute.
• MultiDimension Technology (MDT): Chinese commercial supplier of TMR magnetic sensors for industrial and consumer electronics. Comparable in TMR sensor technology focus but operates as a commercial product company serving high-volume markets rather than as a research institute.

Broad incumbents

• Sensitec: German specialist in AMR and TMR magnetoresistive sensors for industrial, automotive, and biomedical applications. Comparable as a commercial company operating in INESC MN's core magnetoresistive sensor domain, but positioned as a product company rather than research institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InescMn?mx=2
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@inescmicrosistemasenanotec1354
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inesc-mn
• Instagraminstagram.com/inesc_mn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about INESC MN