NMI

What NMI does

NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen is a non-profit research foundation (Stiftung) established in 1985 in Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, affiliated with the University of Tübingen. It operates at the intersection of medicine, natural sciences, and engineering, organized into five competency areas: Biomarkers & Bioanalytics, Electrophysiology, Disease Models & Mechanisms, Material Development & Functionalization, and Microsystem Technology. The institute employs 11-50 staff and serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, and academic research institutions through fee-for-service contract research, government-funded collaborative R&D, and technology transfer.

NMI's core technology portfolio includes the proprietary DigiWest® protein profiling platform, custom microelectrode arrays (MEAs) in transparent, flexible polymer, 3D, and mesh configurations, solid-state nanopore sensors capable of distinguishing mass-equivalent isomers, and Organ-on-Chip microfluidic systems for drug testing and disease modeling. Supporting capabilities include ISO 17025-accredited material characterization (XPS, SEM, TEM, tribology), biological evaluation of medical devices per ISO 10993, patch clamp and HTS calcium imaging services, recombinant protein production, nanobody development, and microfabrication services for polyimide MEMS and Parylene coatings. Multiple competencies have been commercialized through technology transfer, with NMI TT serving as a wholly-owned subsidiary for this purpose.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: project-based contract research and accredited testing services (professional services fees), collaborative R&D projects typically co-funded by BMBF, EU, DFG, EFRE, BMWk, or InvestBW grants, and technology licensing or spin-off arrangements. NMI does not publicly disclose pricing or revenue figures, and operates on a custom project-quote basis with multi-year contract structures. Distribution is direct enterprise sales rather than channel-based, supplemented by conference participation (MEA Meeting since 1998, Diagnostics-4-Future) and peer-reviewed scientific publications as the primary demand-generation mechanisms.

Name

NMI

Legal name

NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen

Website

https://nmi.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NMI is a non-profit German research institute affiliated with the University of Tübingen that provides contract research, accredited testing, and proprietary platforms (DigiWest® protein profiling, microelectrode arrays, Organ-on-Chip systems, nanopore sensors) to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies plus academic partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Biomedical research
• Biomarker analysis
• Medical device testing
• Electrophysiology services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reutlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Fee-for-service research and testing services including biomarker analysis, bioanalytics, electrophysiology testing, material characterization, and accredited testing per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018
2. R&D Collaborations and Project Funding: Collaborative research projects with industry partners and academic institutions, often co-funded by government agencies (BMBF, EU, DFG) for specific technology development
3. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Development of technologies and methods for potential commercialization through spin-offs or licensing arrangements with industry partners

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NMI is a non-profit research institute providing contract research, fee-for-service testing, and collaborative R&D to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical technology, and academic customers. It delivers proprietary technology platforms (DigiWest® protein profiling, microelectrode arrays, Organ-on-Chip systems, solid-state nanopores, bioelectronic implants) and ISO/IEC 17025-accredited material, surface, and biological evaluation services spanning biomarkers, electrophysiology, disease models, materials, and microsystems.

Product overview

NMI (Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut) is a research institute at the University of Tübingen offering a comprehensive portfolio of scientific services and technologies across five main competency areas: Biomarkers and Bioanalytics, Electrophysiology, Disease Models and Mechanisms, Material Development and Functionalization, and Microsystemstechnik. The core offerings include DigiWest® Protein Profiling technology, Organ-on-Chip systems, and Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs), supported by extensive analytical services including material characterization, biological evaluation, and accredited testing. The institute provides contract research and development services for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and research institutions, focusing on drug development, personalized medicine, and biomedical technology innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DigiWest® Protein Profiling Proprietary protein profiling technology for biomarker discovery and analysis, enabling quantitative detection of proteins across large sample sets for biomarker identification and assay development.
• Organ-on-Chip Services Microfluidic organ-on-chip platforms integrating living organ substructures for physiological simulation outside the body, combining classical cell assays with animal-model relevance for drug testing, disease modeling, and personalized medicine.
• Microelectrode Array (MEA) Development Custom-designed microelectrode arrays for electrophysiological studies, including transparent MEAs for optical-electrical combinations, flexible polymer microimplants, 3D microelectrodes, and mesh electrodes for 3D cell cultures and brain organoids.
• Biomarker and Assay Development Development of biomarkers and analytical assays for disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, supporting pharmaceutical and biotech customers from concept through validation.
• Nanobody Service Full-service nanobody development including immunization, screening, characterization, and candidate optimization for therapeutic and research applications.
• Recombinant Protein Production & Purification Production and purification of recombinant proteins for research and therapeutic applications.
• Lactoferrin Characterization Analytical characterization services for lactoferrin proteins.
• Thermal Stability Determination (nanoDSF) Determination of protein thermal stability using nanoDSF technology for protein characterization and stability studies.
• Patch Clamp Services Electrophysiological recording using patch clamp technique for ion channel studies and compound safety evaluation.
• HTS Calcium Imaging High-throughput screening calcium imaging for cellular signaling studies.
• Xenopus Oocyte Service Expression system using Xenopus oocytes for electrophysiological studies of ion channels and transporters.
• Patient-Derived Microtumors In vitro tumor models derived from patient samples for personalized medicine research and preclinical drug efficacy testing.
• Cardiac Ion Channel Safety Testing Safety pharmacology testing for cardiac ion channel interactions per ICH S7B guidelines for drug development.
• Neurotox Assays Neurotoxicity assessment assays for compound safety evaluation using electrophysiological readouts.
• Material & Surface Characterization Comprehensive surface and material analysis for medical devices and implants, including XPS, SEM, TEM, and tribology analysis.
• Polymer Analysis Analytical services for polymer characterization in medical device applications.
• Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices Biocompatibility testing for medical devices according to ISO 10993 standards, including physicochemical and biological assessments.
• Accredited Testing Services per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 Accredited laboratory testing services for material and biological evaluation, providing regulatorily valid results for medical device submissions.
• Solid-State Nanopore Fabrication & Analysis Solid-state nanopore analysis for detecting epigenetic factors and protein modifications (PTMs), with the capability to differentiate mass-equivalent isomers.
• Polyimide MEMS Fabrication Microelectromechanical systems fabrication services using polyimide materials for medical and Lab-on-Chip applications.
• Parylene Coating Services Parylene conformal coating services for medical device protection and hermetic encapsulation.
• Custom Microfabrication Microscale fabrication services for microdevices and Lab-on-Chip systems, including cleanroom-based custom device fabrication.
• Bioelectronic Implant Development Development of bioelectronic implant devices with flexible microelectrode arrays for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy, including bidirectional communication capabilities.
• Energy Storage Interface Analysis Analysis services for battery and energy storage materials including interface characterization, supporting next-generation battery and storage research projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• In-vitro models can replace animal testing while maintaining physiological relevance for drug development and toxicity testing

Named customers3 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AutoStack-ProBio - Eberhard Karls Universität TübingenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026EFRE-funded project adapting multi-layer lamination technology from PCB manufacturing to polymer-based microfluidic products. University of Tübingen collaborates on automated multi-layer fabrication and bio-intelligent demonstrator development.
• EProKry Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026BMFTR funded project on residue-free manufacturing of medical components using cryogenic machining. Partners: Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau, acp systems AG, Eggers Components, OTT-JAKOB Spanntechnik, IPlaCon GmbH. Associated partners include B. Braun/Aesculap and Chiron Group.
• CaSino Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2023Project on calcium-sulfur batteries as alternative to lithium. Partners: DLR (project management), KIT, Forschungsinstitut Edelmetalle + Metallchemie (fem), Universität Ulm, IoLiTec Ionic Liquid Technologies, EurA AG. NMI analyzes electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
• nanodiag BW Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Multi-partner future cluster funded by BMBF's Clusters4Future initiative. Partners include Actome GmbH, Aixtron SE, AMO gGmbH, Computomics, EpiQMax GmbH, Eurofins Genomics GmbH, Ionera GmbH, Nanion GmbH, NanoTemper GmbH, Q-Bios GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Scinomics GmbH, Signatope GmbH, Steinbeis GmbH + Co.KG, Temicon GmbH, trenzyme GmbH, Fraunhofer IWM, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Hahn-Schickard, ILM Ulm, MPI-IE Freiburg, RWTH Aachen, Universität Freiburg, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Universität Stuttgart. Developing nanopore technology for detecting epigenetic factors and protein modifications.
• FoBioGel Project - Cellendes GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Joint project developing photostructurable, biochemically functionalizable hydrogels for 3D bioprinting and Organ-on-Chip applications. Cellendes develops hydrogel materials; NMI evaluates properties and application potential including use as bioinks for 3D bio-printing.
• EDIH Südwest ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022European Digital Innovation Hub Southwest coordinated by Hahn-Schickard, bringing together 24 regional players including BadenCampus, bwcon, Hochschule Konstanz, cyberLAGO, Hochschule Furtwangen, imsimity GmbH, Fraunhofer IPM, MedicalMountains, SICOS BW, and others to support companies in digital transformation.
• MEMMEA Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021DFG-funded project developing hybrid MEMristor-CMOS Microelectrode Array biosensor platform for energy-efficient neural signal processing. Consortium: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Technische Universität Berlin, Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), and NMI.
• Snow4Life Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2021InvestBW funded project developing CO2 snow jet cleaning for life science industries. Partners: acp systems AG, Bausch + Ströbel, CAT Clean Air Technology, Bentley InnoMed, Richard Wolf, Fraunhofer IPA. NMI validates cleaning processes for complex geometries.
• MeTiWeld - Universität KasselminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021BMWk/AiF funded project on micro-electron beam welding of titanium with nitinol and stainless steels for biocompatible material composites using filler metals. Universität Kassel provides expertise in production technology and joining processes.
• SEALANT Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020EUREKA-Eurostars funded project developing thin-film-based hermetic encapsulation technology for miniaturized medical implants. Partners: Osypka AG, Comelec SA, and IMTEK Universität Freiburg working with NMI to replace bulky metal/glass housings with direct encapsulation coatings.
• interBATT Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020M-Era.NET project on boundary layer solutions for next-generation battery anodes. Partners: DLR Germany, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Custom Cells Itzehoe GmbH, AIXTRON SE. NMI contributes cryo-electron microscopy and interface analysis.
• ÖkoMoBiL - Scheerer Logistik & Remsgold ChemieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Biohymed network project developing whey-based ecological cleaning system for industrial automated cleaning processes. Partners develop whey-based cleaners; NMI validates cleaning effectiveness using automated analysis methods.
• InnoRein Project - 31 CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2009Joint project investigating innovative cleaning processes (plasma cleaning, CO2 snow jet cleaning) for medical technology products. 31 companies, mainly from medical technology sector, participated in evaluating new cleaning methods for difficult geometries.
• Final Cleaning Project - 22 CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Joint project developing objective assessment methods for implant surface cleanliness after final cleaning. 22 companies from medical technology sector participated in developing XPS standard surfaces and validated cleaning procedures.
• 3R-Center TübingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with 3R-Center Tübingen for In-vitro Models and Animal-Free Alternatives. Supports the 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) to reduce animal testing through advanced in-vitro models and Organ-on-Chip systems.
• Snow4Life - acp systems AG, Bausch + Ströbel, CAT Clean Air Technology, Bentley InnoMed, Richard Wolf, Fraunhofer IPAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource-saving cleaning project using CO2 snow jets for life science industries. Consortium validates cleaning solutions for complex geometries with new test methods for narrow lumen surfaces.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TissUse GmbH: Berlin-based company specializing in multi-organ-chip and organ-on-chip technology. Directly comparable as a German-headquartered Organ-on-Chip developer competing with NMI's OoC platform in pharma services and disease modeling.
• Mimetas: Dutch Organ-on-Chip company offering the OrganoPlate platform for high-throughput 3D tissue models. Closely comparable to NMI's OoC service offering, including disease modeling and drug screening use cases.
• Multi Channel Systems MCS: German manufacturer of microelectrode array (MEA) recording systems headquartered near Reutlingen. Directly competes with NMI's MEA technology and electrophysiology services for pharma and academic customers.

Broad incumbents

• Emulate Inc. US-based leader in Organ-on-Chip technology with broader commercial scale and venture backing. Comparable in OoC application areas (drug development, disease modeling) but with substantially larger resources and global commercial reach than NMI.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing services group with dedicated genomics, bioanalytical, and pharma services divisions (Eurofins Genomics is also an NMI consortium partner in nanodiag BW). Comparable as a contract testing and biomarker analysis provider at significantly larger scale.
• Charles River Laboratories: Large global CRO offering preclinical safety testing, including cardiac safety (CiPA / ion channel) and biocompatibility services. Comparable in regulated safety pharmacology and medical device testing, but at materially greater scale and geographic reach than NMI.

Others

• Fraunhofer IWM: German Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials with overlapping materials characterization, microsystems, and surface analytics capabilities. Comparable as a publicly funded German applied research peer with similar institute structure and customer base.
• Hahn-Schickard: German applied research institute specializing in microsystems, microfluidics, and Lab-on-Chip development, headquartered in the same region as NMI. Closely comparable institute model and direct consortium partner (nanodiag BW, EDIH Südwest), with overlapping MEMS and microfluidics capabilities.

Emerging players

• Nanion Technologies: German company offering patch clamp, automated electrophysiology, and ion channel screening instruments. Directly overlaps with NMI's patch clamp and cardiac ion channel safety testing services for pharma.
• MaxWell Biosystems: Swiss company developing high-density microelectrode array chips and platforms for neuronal cell sorting and electrophysiology. Comparable technology overlap with NMI's MEA capabilities, particularly for organoid and neural recording applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/nmirt.bsky.social
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/natural-and-medical-sciences-institute-at-university-of-tuebingen
• Instagraminstagram.com/nmi.reutlingen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 NMI