Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology

What Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology does

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology (INP) is a non-profit research institute registered in Stralsund, Germany, operating from its headquarters in Greifswald with two additional sites in Rostock and Karlsburg. Founded in 1992 and incorporated as a registered association (eingetragener Verein), INP is the largest non-academic research facility in Europe focused on low-temperature plasmas and operates under the Leibniz Association alongside 95 peer institutions. The institute employs approximately 170 full-time equivalents drawn from 22 countries and runs an interdisciplinary program spanning physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering.

INP's core technology platform is low-temperature plasma, which it applies across five primary verticals: agriculture and bioeconomy (plasma seed treatment for improved germination and decontamination), plasma medicine (the kINPen MED and P-Array jet devices for chronic wound healing, deployed at the clinic-proximate Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg), surface and materials engineering (PECVD coatings, plasma printing, microfabrication), energy and process technology (plasmalysis for low-emission hydrogen and the HiPowAR ammonia membrane reactor), and data-driven plasma modeling. The portfolio is supported by 169 granted patents and more than 1,600 scientific publications, with six spin-off companies commercializing selected technologies.

The institute is primarily funded through government appropriations (Leibniz Association core funding from federal and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state budgets), EU program grants (Horizon Europe, ERDF), and national project funding (BMBF), supplemented by contract research services for industrial and healthcare partners and licensing/royalty income from the spin-off portfolio. The institute's stated annual turnover is €28.8 million, and its go-to-market operates through direct research collaboration, consortium-based EU projects, technology transfer, and the spin-off channel rather than conventional commercial sales.

Name

Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology

Legal name

Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.

Website

https://inp-greifswald.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology (INP) is Europe's largest non-academic research institute for low-temperature plasmas, developing plasma-based solutions in medicine, agriculture, energy, and materials for industry, healthcare, and academic partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plasma Research & Technology Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Plasma Gasification & Advanced Thermal Treatment (High-temp conversion) (EUAAAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Thermal Spray & Metallizing (HVOF/Plasma/Arc) (IMAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Low-temperature plasma research
• Plasma medicine devices
• Plasma surface treatment
• Plasmalysis hydrogen production
• Contract plasma research

Headquarters

HQ city

Greifswald

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Core Funding (Leibniz Association): Base funding from German federal and state governments through the Leibniz Association for fundamental research operations
2. EU Research Projects: Funding from European Union through European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Horizon Europe, and other EU programs for specific research projects
3. National Research Funding: Funding from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, and State Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
4. Contract Research Services: Research services for external clients including industry partners, healthcare facilities, and other research institutions through application laboratories and technology transfer
5. Technology Transfer/Spin-offs: Commercialization of research through 6 spin-off companies that develop plasma technologies into marketable products

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

INP conducts application-oriented low-temperature plasma research and develops prototypes spanning plasma medicine devices, agricultural seed treatment, hydrogen production processes, and surface/material coatings. The institute provides contract research services through application laboratories, plasma diagnostics, and plasma sources development, and commercializes innovations through six spin-off companies operating under its 'From idea to prototype' mission.

Product overview

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is a research institute offering plasma-based technologies and research services from idea to prototype. The portfolio includes medical plasma devices such as the kINPen MED and P-Array for wound healing applications, energy technologies like Plasmalyse for low-emission hydrogen production and HiPowAR for ammonia-based power generation, materials technologies including CeraCoatPlus for plasma-enhanced coatings, and agricultural applications using plasma seed treatment. INP operates as a research service organization with application laboratories, plasma diagnostics, plasma sources development, and knowledge/technology transfer services, supplemented by collaborative WIR! alliance projects (Physics for Food, CAMPFIRE, biogeniV) and EU-funded research initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PtX Plasma Development Center: Research and testing of plasmalysis processes for producing low-emission hydrogen as part of the Forschungsfabrik Wasserstoff MV
• Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK)

Products and services

• kINPen MED

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved germination rates for tree species through plasma treatment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dr. Guth GmbH & Co. KG (Karlsburg Clinic)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Founding partner of Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK) for clinic-proximate research in diabetes treatment and wound healing with plasma medicine. Enables direct clinical testing and patient feedback integration.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in the Forschungsfabrik Wasserstoff MV (Hydrogen Research Factory MV) for development of plasmalysis processes for low-emission hydrogen production from methane and biomethane. Joint work on hydrogen technologies for energy transition.
• Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Forschungsfabrik Wasserstoff MV consortium working on hydrogen technologies and alternative energy sources alongside INP and Fraunhofer IGP.
• Elsoms Seeds and Elsoms TreesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK partner supplying tree seeds for plasma treatment research project funded by Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF). Project focuses on improving germination of Northern European tree species for reforestation.
• ZaynduminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish plasma specialist collaborating on plasma-treated air applications for seed decontamination in the reforestation research project.
• Physics for Food ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIR! BMBF project with University of Applied Sciences Stralsund and Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility to shape structural change in Northeast coastal region through innovative physical high technology.
• CAMPFIRE ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIR! Alliance for decentralized ammonia production from renewable energies and its utilization as energy source for emission-free maritime mobility.
• biogeniV AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIR! BMBF project coupling renewable energy use with bioeconomy for climate-neutral future, involving innovative plasma technologies.
• Fraunhofer IKTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of MIEC (Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductor) membranes and membrane reactor for HiPowAR project. Responsible for manufacturing membrane tubes and testing.
• ZBT GmbH (Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy efficiency assessment, environmental impact evaluation, cost estimation, and electricity generation cost calculation for HiPowAR ammonia conversion system.
• Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModeling, simulation, and optimization of HiPowAR system layout for stationary and mobile applications, efficiency assessment.
• Maston Renewable Energy Lab (MREL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSystem component development and prototype testing for membrane reactor, PLC implementation, and system simulation support for HiPowAR.
• RANOTOR ABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy on integration of high-tech steam engine into HiPowAR concept for small-scale power applications.
• University of Rostock (Chair of Microfluidics)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in CeraCoatPlus project for plasma-assisted production of functional layers on porous components.
• University Medical Center GreifswaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery cooperation for plasma wound healing research and clinical applications.
• Leibniz AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINP is part of Leibniz Association connecting 95 independent research institutions bridging fundamental science and applied R&D. Provides core funding and network access.
• Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbor institute in Greifswald dedicated to nuclear fusion research. Together with INP makes Greifswald a major plasma science hub.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• neoplas med GmbH: neoplas med is a Greifswald-based medical device company developing cold atmospheric plasma systems for clinical wound care and oncology. It is a direct commercial peer to INP's plasma medicine portfolio (kINPen MED, P-Array), translating the same underlying plasma science into regulated products.
• Tantec A/S: Tantec is a Danish manufacturer of plasma and corona treatment systems used for surface modification in plastics, packaging, and electronics. It is a direct peer to INP's plasma surface treatment and microfabrication work, operating in the same industrial end-markets.
• Relyon Plasma GmbH: Relyon Plasma (now part of TDK) manufactures plasma generators and plasma treatment systems for industrial and biomedical applications. It is a direct commercial peer to INP's plasma source development and application laboratory offerings.
• PlasmaTreat GmbH: PlasmaTreat produces industrial atmospheric plasma systems for surface cleaning, activation, and coating. It is a direct peer to INP's CeraCoatPlus and plasma surface treatment research, serving the same industrial manufacturing customers.
• Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP): IPP is Germany's premier plasma physics research institute, with a major facility in Greifswald focused on nuclear fusion. It is INP's closest peer — both institutes specialize in plasma research and operate side-by-side in Greifswald, forming a major European plasma science hub.
• Terraplasma Medical GmbH: Terraplasma Medical develops cold atmospheric plasma devices for wound healing, infection control, and dermatology. It is a direct peer to INP's kINPen MED and WoundPro efforts, competing for the same plasma-medicine clinical and outpatient markets.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP): Fraunhofer IGP is a large applied research organization focused on production engineering for large structures, with hydrogen technologies as one of several focus areas. It is a core strategic partner to INP in the Forschungsfabrik Wasserstoff MV but operates much more broadly, making it a broad incumbent rather than a focused plasma peer.

Emerging players

• Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT): LIKAT is a Leibniz-Association peer institute focused on catalysis research. It partners with INP on hydrogen and energy projects but its core scientific domain is catalysis rather than plasma, making it a comparable R&D organization in the same parent network but only partially overlapping in technology focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inpgreifswald
• Facebookfacebook.com/INPGreifswald
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leibniz-institute-for-plasma-science-and-technology

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology