What Innovent does

INNOVENT e.V. (Technologieentwicklung Jena) is an independent, non-profit industrial research association founded in February 1994 and headquartered in Jena, Thuringia, Germany, with a second facility on Ilmstraße. It employs approximately 140 staff across natural sciences, technology, and analytics, and operates as one of the largest industry-oriented research institutions in Thuringia. The organization is governed as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) without external investors, and is a founding member of the Zuse-Gemeinschaft (German Industrial Research Association).

Its service model spans eight research divisions — Beschichtung (coating), Biomaterialien (biomaterials), Bioökonomie (bioeconomy), Kristallzüchtung (crystal growth), Magnetismus (magnetism), Oberflächenbehandlung (surface treatment), Systementwicklung & Gerätebau (system development & device construction), and Werkstoffe & Verbunde (materials & composites) — supported by four service offerings (Analytischer Support, Galvanik, MagnetLab DAkkS calibration, SynProLab contract synthesis). Proprietary technical platforms include PYROSIL® flame pyrolysis for SiOx coatings, PCO® plasma-chemical oxidation for aluminum and metal surfaces, sol-gel coating, electrospinning for high-surface-area membranes, custom biopolymer synthesis, and a DAkkS-accredited magnetic calibration laboratory.

Revenue is generated through three streams: confidential direct contracts with industrial clients (time-and-materials or project flat-rate billing), publicly funded research projects supported by Land, Bund, and EU programs, and INNAP-funded internal applied research partnerships with industry. INNOVENT serves manufacturing companies across medical technology, automotive, aerospace/space, life sciences, food and packaging, energy, electrical industry, and construction, with a stated focus on SMEs and startups that lack in-house R&D capacity. Other measurable outputs include a track record of four spin-offs (SurA, SURA Instruments, MEOX, Matesy), an active 'get started 2gether' startup transfer program, and an announcement of a generational leadership transition effective April 2026.

Name

Innovent

Legal name

INNOVENT e. V. - Verein zur Förderung von Innovationen durch Forschung, Entwicklung und Technologietransfer e. V.

Website

https://innovent-jena.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

INNOVENT e.V. is a non-profit German industrial research institute in Jena offering applied R&D, contract synthesis, and accredited testing in surface coatings, biomaterials, magnetism, optics, crystal growth, and materials testing for manufacturing SMEs, startups, and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Research & Development Services

NAICS

All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)

Keywords

• Industrial research services
• Surface coating technologies
• Biomaterials development
• Applied materials science
• Analytical testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jena

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Industry Contracts: Confidential direct contracts from industry for R&D services, process development, and technology consulting. Services are rendered as Dienstleistungen (service provision) with time-based billing or project-based pricing.
2. Publicly Funded Research Projects: Research projects financed with state (Land), federal (Bund), and EU funding. INNOVENT assists clients in identifying suitable funding programs and can coordinate and administer projects.
3. INNAP Projects: Internal INNOVENT-funded applied research projects with industry partners, bridging the gap between pure research and commercial development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

INNOVENT e.V. is an independent, non-profit industrial research institute that delivers applied research, development, and analytical services to manufacturing companies, SMEs, and startups. Its work spans surface coating technologies (e.g., PYROSIL, PCO, Sol-Gel), biomaterials and biopolymers, magnetism, optics, crystal growth, and materials testing, providing full value-chain support from feasibility analysis through prototyping to market readiness.

Product overview

INNOVENT e.V. is an independent research institute offering a comprehensive portfolio of technology development and research services for manufacturing companies. The organization operates as a multi-disciplinary research center with eight core service areas: Coating (Beschichtung), Biomaterials (Biomaterialien), Bioeconomy (Bioökonomie), Crystal Growth (Kristallzüchtung), Magnetism (Magnetismus), Surface Treatment (Oberflächenbehandlung), System Development & Device Construction (Systementwicklung & Gerätebau), and Materials & Composites (Werkstoffe & Verbunde). Supporting these research areas are specialized service offerings including Analytischer Support (analytical services with optical measurement technology), Galvanik (electroplating), MagnetLab (DAkkS-accredited magnetic calibration laboratory), and SynProLab (contract synthesis services). Key proprietary technologies include Sol-Gel-Beschichtung, CCVD/r-CCVD (Combustion Chemical Vapour Deposition), PCO® (Plasma Chemical Oxidation), and PYROSIL® (SiOx flame pyrolysis coating). The institute serves clients across medical technology, automotive, life sciences, electrical industry, energy, food, construction, and aerospace sectors, providing services from feasibility analysis through material/process development, prototyping, testing, and market readiness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beschichtung (Coating) research services
• Biomaterialien (Biomaterials) research services
• Bioökonomie (Bioeconomy) research
• Kristallzüchtung (Crystal Growth) services
• Magnetismus (Magnetism) services
• Oberflächenbehandlung (Surface Treatment) services
• Systementwicklung & Gerätebau (System Development & Device Construction)
• Werkstoffe & Verbunde (Materials & Composites) services
• Analytischer Support (Analytical Support)
• Galvanik (Electroplating)
• MagnetLab (DAkkS calibration laboratory)
• SynProLab (Contract Synthesis)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 workshops organized through the Anwenderkreis Atmosphärendruckplasma (ak-adp) user group since 2009
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kompetenzzentrum Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik Sachsen/Thüringen e.V. (LRT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Effective January 1, 2026, INNOVENT became a member of the LRT Sachsen/Thüringen aerospace technology competence center. This strengthens INNOVENT's activities in the aerospace sector and provides access to the aerospace industry network.
• OptoNetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023INNOVENT joined OptoNet in 2023 to intensify cooperations in optics and photonics, strengthening visibility and partner access in this sector.
• Zuse-Gemeinschaft (Deutsche Industrieforschungsgemeinschaft Konrad Zuse)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015INNOVENT is a founding member of the Zuse-Gemeinschaft, a German industrial research association. The association promotes non-profit industrial research and connects 75+ member institutes. INNOVENT participates in ZUSE-Tage conferences and collaborative initiatives.
• Verband Innovativer Unternehmen e.V. (VIU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVENT is a member of the Verband Innovativer Unternehmen e.V., an association of innovative companies in Germany.
• Matesy GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationMatesy GmbH was spun off from INNOVENT in 2008. The company focuses on visualization, characterization, and generation of magnetic fields. INNOVENT collaborates with Matesy on joint presentations (e.g., at Space Tech Expo, ZUSE-Tage) and technology transfer via the success story program. The cooperation exemplifies the spin-off to market pathway INNOVENT enables.
• SURA Instruments GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationSURA Instruments GmbH was founded as a spin-off from INNOVENT in 1997. The company specializes in machines and materials for surface pre-treatment and activation. Featured in INNOVENT's success stories.
• MEETOPTICScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVENT deepened its cooperation with MEETOPTICS, an international optics and photonics company, to expand activities in optics and photonics with a focus on PCO® coatings for international markets.
• VogtlandpionierecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vogtlandpioniere (formerly 'KulturLebensraum Vogtland') is a WIR! (Wandel durch Innovation in der Region) alliance initiated by INNOVENT in 2018. It develops innovative technologies for the preservation and revitalization of historic buildings in the structurally weak Vogtland region. INNOVENT serves as a key partner providing research expertise. Funded by BMBF with over €2.5 million for equipment.
• Charité BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVENT supported a Charité exhibition with exhibits on hyaluronic acid, making research visible and conveying scientific topics to the broader public.
• Kites for FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVENT supports the Jena-based startup Kites for Future in developing airborne wind energy systems, contributing technology know-how to the development of kite-based wind turbines.
• Tomsk University (Russia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVENT signed a cooperation agreement with Tomsk University in Russia in 2016 for collaboration in research and education.
• ThEx ZukunftswirtschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThEx (Thüringer Existenzgründungs- und Startup-Agentur) Zukunftswirtschaft organizes startup events at INNOVENT facilities, connecting startups, young companies, and SMEs with INNOVENT's research infrastructure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST): Germany's leading applied research institute for surface engineering and thin films. Directly comparable to INNOVENT's Beschichtung (Coating) and Oberflächentechnik (Surface Technology) divisions, serving similar industrial customers in automotive, aerospace, and medical devices with PVD/CVD and plasma coating technologies.
• Fraunhofer IMWS (Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems): Located in Halle (neighboring Saxony-Anhalt) and focused on materials characterization, polymer analysis, and component testing. Comparable to INNOVENT's Werkstoffe & Verbunde and analytical capabilities, serving similar industrial customers across central Germany with similar research-to-application services.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Optical Systems and Technologies (IOF): Located in Jena (same city as INNOVENT) and a founding member of the same regional innovation ecosystem. Fraunhofer IOF focuses on optical systems and surface technology—directly overlapping with INNOVENT's optics, coating, and surface treatment capabilities. Both institutes serve similar industrial customers in the Jena photonics cluster.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT): Specializes in biomedical and medical technology R&D. Directly comparable to INNOVENT's Biomaterials division, with overlapping capabilities in implant materials, drug delivery, and biomedical device development for similar medical technology clients.
• Hahn-Schickard: Fellow member of the Zuse-Gemeinschaft providing applied R&D in microsystems, sensor technology, and production. Comparable as a co-member non-profit research institute serving SMEs with similar contract research, technology transfer, and spin-off generation models.

Regional players

• Joanneum Research: Austria's largest non-university research organization, operating across similar technology domains (materials, biomedicine, surface technology). Comparable as a regional European contract research institute serving SMEs and industrial customers, though based in Austria rather than Germany.
• AIMPLAS (Technological Institute of Plastics): Spanish research center specializing in plastics, polymer synthesis, and biomaterials. Comparable to INNOVENT's biomaterials, polymer synthesis, and bioplastics capabilities, with similar contract research and SME-support models, though serving primarily Spanish and Southern European markets.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM): Germany's federal institute for materials research and testing. Comparable to INNOVENT's materials testing, failure analysis, and analytical capabilities, though operating at much larger scale as a government agency rather than a regional research institute.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): The Netherlands' national applied research organization with ~3,500 employees across multiple domains. Comparable as a European non-profit contract research institute serving industrial clients with applied R&D, though operating at substantially larger scale across more verticals than INNOVENT.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national research institute with 2,000+ employees. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research organization serving industrial customers across multiple technology domains, though substantially larger and broader in scope than INNOVENT's regional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD_byLG9MMYv68zpvLcECmA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovent-e.v.-technologieentwicklung-jena

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovent