Neaspec

What Neaspec does

Neaspec, now operating as the Nanoscale Analytics business unit of attocube systems GmbH and headquartered in Haar near Munich, Germany, develops and sells nanoscale optical imaging and spectroscopy instrumentation based on scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM). Its flagship neaSCOPE platform combines atomic force microscopy with proprietary optical detection techniques to deliver sub-10 nm spatial resolution across visible, near-infrared, mid-infrared, and terahertz spectral ranges, with multiple product variants supporting room-temperature, high-vacuum, and cryogenic operation. Core technology modules include nano-FTIR, AFM-IR, correlative nano-Raman, ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy (10 fs temporal / 10 nm spatial), nanoTHz-TDS, transmission s-SNOM, and a modular software architecture with SDK.

The company sells directly to academic institutions, government research institutes, and a small number of industrial research laboratories worldwide; named customers include Cambridge, Harvard, Berkeley, LMU, Fraunhofer, PTB, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Seagate. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time capital equipment sales of complex, quote-based instrument systems, supported by in-house and global demo labs, application-scientist consultations, and content-driven marketing via webinars, conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.

Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field motion targeting research laboratories, with more than 250 installed systems globally as of the most recent disclosure. The organization employs 200+ staff, approximately 60% of whom hold a PhD in a scientific field, underscoring the application-science intensity required to sell and support high-end analytical instruments. Neaspec operates as a privately held subsidiary of attocube systems GmbH; no standalone financials, funding history, or ownership structure beyond the parent-subsidiary relationship are publicly disclosed.

Name

Neaspec

Legal name

attocube systems GmbH

Website

https://neaspec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Neaspec (attocube Nanoscale Analytics) builds the neaSCOPE platform for nanoscale optical imaging and spectroscopy at sub-10 nm resolution, selling capital instruments directly to academic, government, and industrial research laboratories worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation - Nanoscale Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Characterization & Spectroscopy (NMR/FTIR/MS) (HLAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Sensor Components & Subsystems (Lasers, Vacuum, Photonics, Diamond/NV, MEMS) (HDAGAHAM), Quantum Spectroscopy & Chemical/Biological Sensing (HDAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Nanoscale imaging spectroscopy
• Optical AFM platform
• Near-field microscopy
• Nano-FTIR spectroscopy
• Correlative nanoscopy

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrument Sales: Sale of neaSCOPE optical AFM platform systems and related nanoscale analytics instruments to academic and industrial research laboratories worldwide. Instruments operate at room temperature, high vacuum, or cryogenic conditions and support multiple spectroscopy modes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Neaspec (now Nanoscale Analytics business unit at attocube systems GmbH) designs, manufactures, and sells the neaSCOPE optical AFM platform — a modular nanoscale optical imaging and spectroscopy instrument with sub-10 nm spatial resolution across visible, NIR, MIR, and THz spectral ranges. The platform supports correlative nanoscopy combining s-SNOM, nano-FTIR, AFM-IR, nano-Raman, ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy, and cryogenic operation in a single instrument, sold to academic institutions and industry research laboratories worldwide.

Product overview

Neaspec (now Nanoscale Analytics business unit at attocube) offers the neaSCOPE product line—a modular optical AFM platform for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy. The platform comprises multiple product variants including IR-neaSCOPE (infrared), VIS-neaSCOPE+s (visible/polarization), THz-neaSCOPE+s (terahertz), IR-neaSCOPE+fs (ultrafast pump-probe), IR-neaSCOPE+TERs (TERS/Raman combination), cryo-neaSCOPE+xs (cryogenic), and IRa-SCOPE (multi-scale correlative). Built on core technologies including s-SNOM, nano-FTIR, AFM-IR, and correlative nano-Raman, the systems deliver sub-10 nm spatial resolution across visible, NIR, MIR to THz spectral ranges. The modular housing design and SDK enable highest application flexibility for research in 2D materials, polymers, energy materials, life science, and inorganic materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• neaSCOPE: Optical AFM platform product line offering advanced optical techniques including s-SNOM, nano-FTIR, AFM-IR, ultrafast nanoscopy, nano-Raman, and nanoTHz-TDS for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy
• IR-neaSCOPE
• VIS-neaSCOPE+s
• THz-neaSCOPE+s
• cryo-neaSCOPE+xs
• IRa-SCOPE

Products and services

• neaSCOPE The main optical AFM platform offering advanced optical techniques plus electrical and mechanical measurement modes, performed at room temperature, under high vacuum or cryogenic conditions, enabling correlative nanoscopy in one single instrument for research customers.
• IR-neaSCOPE Nanoscale infrared (IR) imaging and spectroscopy system based on probing laser-induced photothermal expansion with an AFM tip, for researchers analyzing IR-active materials.
• VIS-neaSCOPE+s Provides polarization-resolved near-field mapping of local complex electromagnetic fields (amplitude & phase), for researchers in nanophotonics and plasmonics.
• IR-neaSCOPE+s Enables nanoscale infrared (IR) imaging and nano-FTIR spectroscopy by detecting the light scattered from a standard AFM tip, for materials and life-science research customers.
• THz-neaSCOPE+s A versatile platform for nanoscale terahertz (THz) near-field imaging and spectroscopy, for researchers studying THz-active nanoscale phenomena.
• IR-neaSCOPE+fs Enables ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy at 10 fs temporal and 10 nm spatial resolution for researchers studying ultrafast nanoscale dynamics.
• IR-neaSCOPE+TERs Revolutionizes nanoscale spectroscopy by combining nano-FTIR with nano-Raman, providing correlative vibrational analysis for advanced materials research.
• cryo-neaSCOPE+xs Pioneering instrument for nanoscale optical imaging and spectroscopy in extreme cryogenic environments, for researchers performing cryogenic nanoscale analysis.
• IRa-SCOPE Combines micro-IR, nano-IR and Raman with top-quality AFM for multi-scale surface characterization in one instrument, for materials research customers needing comprehensive vibrational and topographic analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 250 installed microscope systems worldwide with proven robust operation and maximum performance.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• World's Leading Scientists and SupplierscoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerneaspec collaborates with the world's leading scientists and suppliers to develop and offer solutions in visible, NIR, MIR to THz spectral ranges, including Raman, TERS, and PL spectroscopy, ultrafast pump-probe experiments, all with sub-10 nm spatial resolution.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific:
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss offers ORION NanoFab (ion- and electron-beam nanomachining with helium ion microscopy) and Crossbeam FE-SEM/FIB systems that serve overlapping nanoscale materials characterization customers. As a broad microscopy incumbent, Zeiss bundles multi-modal workflows that compete for the same procurement budgets as Neaspec.

Direct peers

• WITec: WITec (now part of Oxford Instruments) sells alpha300 RISE (Raman Imaging and Scanning Electron) and confocal Raman systems with nanoscale spatial resolution. They compete directly in correlative Raman-AFM, a key Neaspec use case.
• HORIBA Scientific: HORIBA Scientific offers LabRAM HR Evolution, NanoRaman, and TERS (tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) systems that directly compete with Neaspec's correlative nano-Raman and TERS capabilities. They serve the same academic and industrial photonics/materials research customers.
• Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments (formerly Asylum Research) sells Cypher and MFP-3D AFM systems that compete with the neaSCOPE platform in high-resolution SPM for academic and industrial research. They also offer cryo-free AFM systems directly overlapping with Neaspec's cryogenic nanoscopy line.
• Renishaw: Renishaw produces inVia confocal Raman microscopes and Virsa Raman analyzers, including StreamLine and correlative Raman-AFM modes. Their products overlap with Neaspec's nano-Raman and IR-Raman correlative capabilities in materials and life science research applications.
• Bruker: Bruker's Nano Surfaces division offers Dimension Icon AFMs, NanoIR nanoscale infrared spectroscopy, and Innova AFM systems that directly compete with the neaSCOPE platform across AFM, nano-FTIR, and correlative nanoscopy. Bruker is the most direct head-to-head competitor in nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy instruments.
• Park Systems: Park Systems manufactures NX-series AFMs (NX10, NX20, NX-Hivac) with sub-nanometer resolution and nanoscale imaging capabilities that compete in the same research-grade AFM market as Neaspec, particularly in academic and materials science laboratories.

Emerging players

• NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments: NT-MDT (now NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments) offers NTEGRA and NT-MDT AFM systems with nanomechanical and electrical measurement modes. They compete in the research-grade AFM market but with less specialization in optical near-field spectroscopy than Neaspec.
• Nanonics Imaging: Nanonics Imaging manufactures multi-probe SPM systems and AFM-Raman correlative tools for nanoscale research. They overlap with Neaspec on correlative nanoscopy but are a smaller, niche-focused player with a more limited installed base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neaspec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Neaspec