NMI Technology Transfer

What NMI Technology Transfer does

NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH (NMI TT) is a private, Reutlingen-based contract research organization and microdevice manufacturer that was founded in 2002 as a commercial subsidiary of the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen. The company operates two business units. The Services for Pharma unit provides CRO offerings in protein profiling (DigiWest multiplex up to 800 analytes, Luminex, Simoa, RPPA, Simple Western, ELISA), custom cell services (stable cell lines, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, hiPSC disease models, cell-based assays), electrophysiology (manual and automated patch clamp, oocyte recording, MEA-based recording, live cell imaging), and immuno-oncology (Patient-Derived Microtumor assays with 4D confocal imaging). The Microdevices unit designs and produces over 40 types of microelectrode arrays (Universal MEA, Advanced MEA variants including pMEA, 3D-MEA, tMEA, Multiwell MEA, FlexMEA, MeshMEA) on glass and flexible polyimide substrates, alongside custom microdevice prototyping and small-to-medium batch serial production.

Name

NMI Technology Transfer

Legal name

NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH

Website

https://nmi-tt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH is a Reutlingen-based contract research organization and microdevice manufacturer serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology clients globally with proprietary protein profiling (DigiWest), electrophysiology, custom cell services, and ISO 9001:2015 certified microelectrode array production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Services (CRO)

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF), Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Microelectrode array manufacturing
• Protein profiling services
• Electrophysiology assays
• Custom cell line development

Headquarters

HQ city

Reutlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services (CRO): Fee-for-service contract research across protein profiling, custom cell services, and electrophysiology for pharma and biotech clients. Services accessible via direct contracts, MSAs, or online marketplaces Scientist.com and ScienceExchange. Multiple international pharmas have established Preferred Partner and Extended Workbench relationships.
2. Microelectrode Array Products: Production and sale of MEAs to Multi Channel Systems GmbH (Harvard Bioscience) and directly to 800+ laboratories worldwide. Products include Universal MEAs, Advanced MEAs, Flexible MEAs, and MeshMEAs. Batch sizes matching customer needs with routine fabrication of standard or customized designs.
3. Ion Channel Cell Lines: Sale of proprietary Cav1.2 cell lines as ready-to-use vials or cultivatable lines. Cav1.2 cell line also available through partner acCELLerate. IGAMI-based ion channel cell lines (nACHR alpha7, hNCX1, hKV4.3) available on custom basis.
4. Modified Luminex Beads: Sale of ready-to-use modified MagPlex® microspheres (streptavidin, neutravidin) for Luminex® assays. Custom bead coupling services available. Products shipped at 10 million beads per 1 mL.
5. Custom Microdevice Prototype and Production: Prototype microdevice development from idea to market-ready serial production. Support with design tailored to application. Small prototype batches starting from 10 pieces with reasonable engineering investment. Serial production in small to medium batch sizes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH (NMI TT) provides fee-for-service contract research and certified microdevice manufacturing for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology clients. The Service for Pharma business unit delivers protein profiling (DigiWest, Luminex, Simoa, RPPA), custom cell services (CRISPR, hiPSC disease models, immuno-oncology), and electrophysiology (patch clamp, MEA, live cell imaging). The Microdevices business unit produces ISO 9001:2015 certified microelectrode arrays (40+ types on glass and flexible polyimide) and develops custom microdevice prototypes through to serial production.

Product overview

NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH is a contract research and microdevice manufacturing organization operating two main business units: NMI TT Services for Pharma (CRO services) and NMI TT Microdevices. The Services for Pharma unit provides a portfolio of contract research offerings including Electrophysiology Services (patch clamp, oocyte recording, live cell imaging, MEA-based services, Cav1.2 cell line), Custom Cell Services (custom cell lines, CRISPR cell lines, hiPSC disease models, cell-based assays, immuno-oncology), and Protein Profiling Services (DigiWest, Luminex, Simoa, RPPA, ProteinSimple/ELISA/Western blot). The Microdevices unit develops and manufactures Microelectrode Array (MEA) products (Universal MEA, Advanced MEA variants including pMEA/3D-MEA/tMEA/Multiwell MEA, FlexMEA, MeshMEA) and provides custom microdevice prototyping and serial production services. The company also offers modified Luminex beads as a reagent product. All offerings are accessible via direct contracts, MSAs, or through online marketplaces Scientist.com and ScienceExchange.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZeptoCHIP: Proprietary chip array product line for life science applications
• DigiWest
• Universal MEA
• pMEA
• 3D-MEA
• tMEA
• Multiwell MEA
• FlexMEA
• MeshMEA

Products and services

• Electrophysiology Services Ion channel-related contract research services for drug development, including manual and automated patch clamp, oocyte recording, live cell imaging, MEA-based services, and the proprietary Cav1.2 cell line, sold to pharma and biotech clients.
• Custom Cell Services Advanced cell-based assays, custom cell lines, CRISPR cell lines, hiPSC disease models, cell-based assays, and immuno-oncology assay services for pharma and biotech clients.
• Protein Profiling Services Multiplex protein profiling contract research services including DigiWest, Luminex, Simoa, RPPA, ProteinSimple Simple Western, ELISA, and Western blot assays for biomarker discovery, compound MoA studies, and clinical research.
• Universal MEA Standard in vitro microelectrode array based on a 49x49 mm² glass carrier with titanium or ITO leads and 59 round TiN electrodes, available in 1-well, 6-well, and 9-well configurations for life-sciences research.
• Advanced MEA (pMEA, 3D-MEA, tMEA, Multiwell MEA) Advanced MEA variants including perfusable pMEA for acute slice preparations, 3D-MEA with penetrating needle electrodes, transparent tMEA for combined electrical and optical methods, and Multiwell MEA for parallel experiments.
• FlexMEA (Flexible MEA) Flexible, ultrathin (12 µm) microelectrode arrays fabricated from polyimide foil and metal thin films, ideal for in vivo/ex vivo experiments and attachment to heart and brain tissue.
• MeshMEA Mesh microelectrode array designed for organoid applications, enabling extracellular electrophysiological investigations in 3D cell culture models.
• Your Microdevice (Custom Microdevice Prototyping & Production) Custom microdevice prototyping and small-to-medium batch serial production services for life science applications, supporting customers from design through market-ready serial production.
• DigiWest Proprietary bead-based multiplex protein profiling platform enabling analysis of up to 800 total and phospho proteins per sample, based on Luminex bead technology combined with Western blot-like readout.
• Luminex Protein Assay Services Luminex bead-based multiplex immunoassay services for plasma proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and cell signaling proteins, including assay development and validation.
• Simoa Protein Assay Services Ultra-sensitive Simoa (Single Molecule Array) protein assay services using Quanterix HD-X and SP-X platforms for low-abundance biomarker detection, including custom homebrew assay development.
• Modified Luminex Beads (MagPlex) Ready-to-use modified MagPlex microspheres for Luminex assays, including streptavidin and neutravidin beads, plus custom bead coupling services, compatible with all Luminex xMAP instruments.
• ProteinSimple / Simple Western, ELISA, Western Blot Services Capillary electrophoresis-based Simple Western services, ELISA assay development and performance, and classical Western blot studies for protein analysis.
• Cav1.2 Cell Line Proprietary CHO-K1-based Cav1.2 ion channel cell line with stable expression of α1c/β2/β2δ subunits, available as ready-to-use or cultivatable variants, optimized for automated patch clamp platforms and CiPA-compliant cardiac safety testing.
• IGAMI Ion Channel Cell Lines Proprietary IGAMI inducible expression technology-based ion channel cell lines including nACHR alpha7, hNCX1, and hKV4.3, developed with Steinbeis-Innovationszentrum Zellkulturtechnik.
• Immuno-Oncology Assay Services Patient-derived microtumor (PDM) testing services with autologous TILs and PBMCs for immuno-oncology drug candidate and immunotherapy evaluation, including up to 4D confocal imaging and cytokine/pathway profiling.
• CRISPR Cell Lines CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing services for generating knockout, point-mutation, reporter, and HDR-edited cell lines, including CRISPR editing of primary T cells.
• Custom Stable Cell Lines Custom cell line generation services including cDNA expression vector construction, lentiviral transduction, stable cell line selection and validation, and functional characterization.
• hiPSC Disease Models Generation and analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived disease models and reporter lines from patient biopsy material or via CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
• Cell-Based Assays Broad range of cell-based assay services including proliferation, apoptosis, gene silencing (shRNA/siRNA), high-content microscopy, FACS, RT-qPCR, and Chromobody-based assays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 800 total and phospho proteins analyzed per sample using DigiWest® technology
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Multi Channel Systems GmbH (Harvard Bioscience)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti Channel Systems GmbH (a division of Harvard Bioscience) is NMI TT's long-standing partner for MEA production, with a relationship spanning 20+ years. NMI TT produces microelectrode arrays for MCS, which distributes them through its product portfolio. This is the longest-standing and most significant product partnership for NMI TT's microdevices business unit.
• Axion BioSystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT operates MEA systems from Axion BioSystems, including the high-throughput Maestro Pro platform, in addition to Multi Channel Systems equipment. Axion's systems are used for client electrophysiology projects requiring specific platform capabilities.
• acCELLeratecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoracCELLerate distributes NMI TT's ready-to-use Cav1.2 cell line vials as part of its product portfolio. The cultivatable Cav1.2 cell line is sold directly by NMI TT.
• Steinbeis-Innovationszentrum ZellkulturtechnikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMI TT collaborates with Steinbeis-Innovationszentrum Zellkulturtechnik to develop ion channel cell lines based on the proprietary IGAMI technology. The IGAMI inducible expression device combines two inducible expression systems in one cell for difficult ion channel targets.
• NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen (Parent Institution)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMI TT was founded in 2002 as a subsidiary of the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen. NMI TT uses the NMI institute's facilities including cleanrooms for microdevice production and development. The close collaboration provides NMI TT access to broad expertise in life science applications, enabling better understanding of customer applications and more tailored microdevice solutions.
• Multi Channel Systems GmbH (Harvard Bioscience) — MEA SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT operates MEA systems from Multi Channel Systems (MCS) — a pioneer in flexible, high-precision platforms — in addition to Axion BioSystems. This enables selection of the most appropriate system for each project, fully tailored to the specific scientific question and client requirements.
• Sophion (QPatch Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT uses Sophion's QPatch technology for automated patch clamp services. Combined with NMI TT's long-standing expertise in ion channel research and electrophysiological assay automation, QPatch enables high-quality ion channel screening for drug development and cardiac safety assessment.
• HamamatsucoreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT operates Hamamatsu FDSS/μCell system for high-throughput live cell imaging (96/384 well format, up to 120 Hz sampling frequency). Used for intracellular Ca2+ imaging, safety pharmacology, and neurotoxicity assessment.
• Carl Zeiss (Cell Observer / Cell Explorer)coreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT operates Zeiss Cell Observer system with Yokogawa spinning disk for rapid confocal imaging (subcellular resolution, up to 80 Hz sampling frequency). Used for confocal Ca2+ imaging of cardiomyocytes and other high-resolution cellular studies.
• Luminex CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT is a Luminex partner using xMAP technology for DigiWest and Luminex protein profiling assays. Modified MagPlex® microspheres are compatible with all Luminex xMAP instruments. DigiWest uses Luminex bead-based multiplexing for up to 800 protein analyses per sample.
• CeGaT GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMI TT cooperates with CeGaT GmbH for single cell sequencing (scSeq) as part of phenotypic analyses of hiPSC-derived disease models. CeGaT provides sequencing services to complement NMI TT's differentiation and characterization capabilities.
• Quanterix (Simoa HD-X and SP-X)coreTechnology or IntegrationNMI TT operates Quanterix Simoa HD-X (bead-based digital immunoassay) and SP-X (planar-array) analyzers for ultra-sensitive protein biomarker detection. Supports both pre-clinical and clinical samples under GCP-compliant conditions. Also offers transfer of existing immunoassays to Simoa platforms for enhanced sensitivity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Olink: Provider of PEA-based multiplexed protein biomarker technology (Olink Explore/Target). Competes with DigiWest/Luminex/Simoa offerings in pharma biomarker discovery.
• Multi Channel Systems / Harvard Bioscience: NMI TT's exclusive distribution partner for MEAs and the dominant commercial electrophysiology platform provider. Comparable because NMI TT produces its MEAs and they are sold as part of MCS's product portfolio worldwide.
• MaxWell Biosystems: Swiss developer of high-density CMOS-based microelectrode array chips for cell and tissue recording. Direct technology peer in the high-density MEA category NMI TT serves with MeshMEA and Advanced MEAs.
• Axion BioSystems: Competing MEA-based electrophysiology platform vendor (Maestro/Maestro Pro). NMI TT both operates Axion systems for client services and competes indirectly for end-user MEA platform spend.
• Quanterix: Manufacturer of Simoa HD-X/SP-X ultra-sensitive immunoassay platforms that NMI TT uses as a service instrument. Direct technology peer in the ultra-sensitive biomarker space NMI TT offers.
• Nanion Technologies: Provider of automated patch clamp (Patchliner, SyncroPatch) and bilayer electrophysiology systems. Direct competitor in ion channel screening and CiPA-aligned cardiac safety services.
• Reaction Biology: Specialty CRO offering protein profiling, cell line generation, and ion channel / safety pharmacology services. Closely comparable mid-sized CRO competing for the same pharma outsourcing budget.

Broad incumbents

• Evotec SE: Large CRO offering ion channel, cell line, and protein services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same pharma outsourcing market NMI TT targets.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global CRO with safety pharmacology, cell line, and protein biomarker services. Broad incumbent comparable to NMI TT's preclinical CRO business, especially for cardiac safety and cell biology.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global CRO giant offering protein profiling, cell-based assays, and pharmacology services. Broad incumbent overlap in pharma CRO services where NMI TT competes for outsourced preclinical work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/natural-and-medical-sciences-institute-at-university-of-tuebingen/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/nmi.reutlingen
• Xx.com/NMI_TT_PS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

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 NMI Technology Transfer