CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik

What CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik does

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH is a private, non-profit-oriented applied research institute founded in 1993 and headquartered in Erfurt, Germany. The institute specializes in silicon-based microsensor technology, with a core focus on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) and MOEMS (Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems). It maintains a complete in-house value chain spanning simulation and design, process development, wafer processing, assembly and packaging, measurement analytics, and prototyping/small-batch manufacturing. The technology portfolio covers piezoresistive and resonant pressure sensors, VCSEL laser modules, silicon radiation detectors, photoacoustic gas sensors, in-ear vital parameter sensors, hydrogen sensors, quantum sensor components, and UV LED modules.

The institute operates a sales-led go-to-market model, working directly with industrial partners on custom sensor development projects and serving as a single-source supplier of core components for major industrial customers including Endress+Hauser (industrial pressure sensors) and Sartorius (precision weighing technology). Revenue is generated through three streams: contract R&D services, prototype and small-batch manufacturing, and publicly funded collaborative research projects supported by German and EU programs (BMBF, BMWI, ZIM, EFRE, ESF). The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and operates within an ecosystem spanning the Thuringian sensor cluster, the Fraunhofer IOF Jena application center for micro-optical systems (jointly established 2007), the Advanced UV for Life consortium, and the HYPOS hydrogen consortium. Notable achievements include supplying more than 4,000 silicon detectors to CERN for particle physics research contributing to the Higgs boson discovery.

The customer base spans industrial manufacturing, medical technology, energy/hydrogen, automotive/electromobility, climate/environmental monitoring, and high-energy physics research institutions. Distribution is direct (no resellers), with more than 40% of services provided to Thuringian small and medium enterprises. Recent strategic direction has emphasized expansion into green hydrogen sensing (Pd/Si Schottky diode sensors, photoacoustic gas detection), quantum technology (NV centers in diamond, silicon-based quantum systems), cryogenic sensing for liquid hydrogen, and SiC detectors for high-energy radiation measurement.

Name

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik

Legal name

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH

Website

https://cismst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik is a private German applied research institute in Erfurt specializing in silicon-based MEMS and MOEMS microsensors, offering complete in-house design, prototyping, and small-batch manufacturing for industrial, medical, hydrogen, and physics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Silicon Microsensor R&D

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Silicon microsensors
• MEMS technology
• MOEMS development
• Sensor prototyping
• Contract research

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

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 and Development Services: Industrial R&D services for custom silicon-based sensor development with closed in-house value chain from design to manufacturing. Provides adapted customized solutions and small series manufacturing.
2. Prototype and Small Batch Manufacturing: Production of developed microcomponents on behalf of industry, sometimes in multi-shift operations, serving as sole manufacturer of core components for industrial sensor manufacturers.
3. Publicly Funded Research Projects: Collaborative research projects funded by government bodies (BMBF, BMWI, EU programs like EFRE, ESF, ZIM, and regional Thuringia funding) with industry partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik is a private, non-profit oriented industrial research institute that develops silicon-based microsensors using MEMS and MOEMS technologies. It provides a complete in-house value chain spanning simulation, process development, wafer processing, assembly and packaging, measurement analytics, prototyping, and small-batch manufacturing, delivering customized sensor solutions for industrial, medical, energy, mobility, and research customers.

Product overview

CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik is a private-law, non-profit research institution offering industrial research and development of silicon-based sensors. The company provides a complete in-house value chain from design to prototyping and small-batch manufacturing. The core product portfolio centers on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) and MOEMS (Micro-Optical-Electro-Mechanical Systems) with applications in pressure sensing, force measurement, temperature detection, flow measurement, gas sensing, optical sensing, radiation detection, and quantum technologies. Key product families include piezoresistive and resonant pressure sensors, VCSEL laser modules, UV LED systems, silicon radiation detectors, photoacoustic gas sensors, in-ear vital parameter sensors, hydrogen sensors, and quantum sensor components. Technology services encompass wafer processing, assembly and packaging, simulation and design, and measurement analytics. The company is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% quantum efficiency achieved for 1 keV electron detection (vs. 2% standard)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

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

• Advanced UV for Life e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2013Interdisciplinary consortium of 8 research institutions and 14 industrial companies focused on developing innovative UV light applications in medicine, water treatment, production technology, and sensor technology. CiS contributes development of integrable optical and impedimetric sensors and microsystems based on UV LED components and Si detectors.
• Fraunhofer IOF JenamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Application center for micro-optical systems established in 2007 to develop new products and technologies in micro-optical sensor technology with and for industry.
• HYPOS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding initiative 'Twenty20 – Partnership for Innovation' under BMBF focusing on hydrogen value chain from production, storage, distribution to application. CiS contributes sensor technology for monitoring electrolysers and storage systems.
• SensorikNet e.V. (detect cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThuringian sensor cluster with board membership held by CiS Managing Director Prof. Thomas Ortlepp. Joint initiative with IVAM Microtechnology Association for sensor technology advancement.
• Ilmenau University of TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensive cooperation in micro/nanotechnologies and renewable energies/photovoltaics. Prof. Hannappel serves as endowed professor and scientific director of solar center at CiS. CiS recognized as affiliated institute of TU Ilmenau.
• Forschungs- und Technologieverbund Thüringen e.V. (FTVT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology network with 10 research institutions in Thuringia. CiS participates in activities including new member HySON (Institute for Applied Hydrogen Research Sonneberg).
• Friedrich Schiller University JenamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in BMBF program 'Spitzenforschung und Innovation in den Neuen Ländern' for microsystems for medical technology, bioanalytics, and laser technology.
• GSI Helmholtzzentrum DarmstadtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) project for next-generation radiation detectors to be used at the large accelerator facility.
• RWTH Aachen University (Chair of Medical Information Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary collaboration for biofeedback system development using in-ear vital parameter sensors for pain patient treatment.
• Charité BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical evaluation partner for Advanced UV for Life germ detection systems and biofeedback therapy applications.
• Pain Center BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partner for biofeedback therapy system development for vegetative dysfunction treatment.
• TU Ilmenau (Institute for Micro- and Nanotechnologies MacroNano)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of multichannel fluorescence and absorption sensor for microfluidics in BMBF project KDOptiMi.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sciosense: European (Dutch/German) sensor company specializing in environmental, flow, and automotive sensors with custom ASIC capabilities. Comparable in product scope (pressure, gas, environmental sensors) and customer positioning toward industrial and automotive OEMs.
• X-FAB Silicon Foundries: Germany-headquartered specialty MEMS and analog/mixed-signal foundry with custom prototyping-to-volume manufacturing services. Operates a similar hybrid R&D + manufacturing services model, particularly in European MEMS ecosystems with established industrial customers.
• Innovative Micro Technology (IMT): US-based MEMS foundry offering custom development, prototyping, and low-volume manufacturing of MEMS devices. Directly comparable service offering (custom MEMS + small batch), though serving primarily North American customers.
• MEMSCAP: French MEMS designer and manufacturer (now part of TE Connectivity) offering custom MEMS products and foundry services for aerospace, medical, and industrial applications. Highly comparable business model combining custom R&D with small-to-medium volume MEMS production.
• Silex Microsystems: Swedish MEMS foundry offering custom MEMS development and wafer-level packaging services for industrial and medical customers. Closest direct peer to CiS given its analogous model of bridging R&D with small-series MEMS manufacturing for specialized sensor applications.
• Fraunhofer IPMS: German Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, a direct institutional peer also doing applied MEMS/MOEMS research with industrial partners. Operates a comparable non-profit model of public-funded research combined with industrial contract development in silicon-based microsystems.
• Innovative Sensor Technology (IST) AG: Swiss manufacturer of physical, chemical, and bio-sensors serving industrial, medical, and automotive markets with custom and standard sensor products. Comparable in customer base (industrial OEMs) and product portfolio (temperature, flow, gas sensors), though more commercially focused than CiS.

Broad incumbents

• ams OSRAM: Austrian/German semiconductor company specializing in sensor solutions, optical components, and lighting. A major incumbent in optical/silicon sensors that competes in automotive, medical, and industrial end-markets where CiS also operates.
• Sensirion: Swiss manufacturer of high-volume MEMS sensors for environmental, flow, and gas sensing applications. A larger, commercially established peer competing in overlapping sensor categories but with a much higher-volume, standardized product business model.
• Bosch Sensortec: Division of Robert Bosch producing high-volume MEMS sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors) for consumer, automotive, and IoT markets. A dominant incumbent in MEMS that competes across CiS's target applications but at vastly higher scale and lower unit cost.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cis-forschungsinstitut
• Xx.com/cis_forschung

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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