ZeMA

What ZeMA does

ZeMA gGmbH (Zentrum für Mechatronik und Automatisierungstechnik) is a non-profit applied-research center headquartered in Saarbrücken, Germany, focused on mechatronics and automation technology. The organization provides contract research for industry partners from initial concept through industrial implementation, working across automotive, aerospace, special mechanical engineering, white goods, bio-medical technology, fluid & process technology, and air conditioning technology. Its research mandate is being widened via the announced transformation to the SEI – Saarland Engineering Institute, which links engineering sciences with computer science, natural sciences, and medicine. Ownership is state-backed: Land Saarland holds 59%, Saarland University 19%, HTW Saar 19%, and Montan-Beteiligungsgesellschaft-Saar GmbH 3%, with the Supervisory Board chaired by Jürgen Barke (Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy) and Managing Directors Prof. Dr. Susan Pulham and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Paul Motzki.

ZeMA's research portfolio spans material systems, mechatronics, and versatile production technologies, organized around named focus areas including Robotics, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence (with Multimodal Smart Sensing), Smart Material Systems, Thin Film Technology, Condition Monitoring, and Big Data Analytics. Active research projects include iSMAT, EaSy ML, KIAS, IProGro², 4by3, AUTO IBN², COTEMACO, HAlMa, H2SkaProMo, iTecPro, and the newly established HyCATT (hydrogen technology, following the 2026 Bosch infrastructure acquisition). The center is DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certified, Whistleblower Protection Act-compliant, and serves as a delivery partner in EDIH Saarland and the Mittelstand-Digital Center Saarbrücken.

ZeMA's revenue model rests on B2B contract research and active technology transfer through its industrial network, with pricing structured as fixed-price or time-and-materials research agreements (typically 50% on order placement, 50% on delivery). Distribution is direct to enterprise industrial partners, supplemented by participation in regional digital-innovation channels for SMEs and by academic collaboration with Saarland University and HTW Saar. The center does not publicly disclose revenue; growth is driven by state-aligned innovation policy, expanding research scope into hydrogen and digital manufacturing, and the SEI transformation signaling broadened interdisciplinary mandate.

Name

ZeMA

Legal name

ZeMA – Zentrum für Mechatronik und Automatisierungstechnik gGmbH

Website

https://zema.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ZeMA gGmbH is a Saarbrücken-based non-profit applied-research center providing contract research and technology transfer in mechatronics and automation technology to industrial partners across automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors, currently transforming into the SEI – Saarland Engineering Institute.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saarbrücken

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research for Industry: ZeMA generates revenue through commissioned research and development contracts with industrial partners. The organization offers contract research from idea conception through industrial implementation, addressing industry challenges through innovative R&D and establishing operational solutions.
2. Technology Transfer: Transfer of research results to companies through actively operated technology transfer, facilitated by a large industrial network that is continuously expanded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ZeMA is a non-profit applied research center providing contract research and development services to industrial partners, spanning initial idea conception through industrial implementation. It operates interdisciplinary teams that analyze, conceptualize, develop, and validate prototypical products and production technologies across mechatronics, automation, robotics, AI, smart materials, and hydrogen infrastructure. Complementary offerings include active technology transfer to companies through a large industrial network and academic education collaboration with Saarland University and HTW Saar.

Product overview

ZeMA gGmbH is a non-profit research center for mechatronics and automation technology in Saarbrücken, Germany, undergoing transformation into the SEI (Saarland Engineering Institute). The organization operates as a platform for application-oriented research and development, offering contract research services to industry partners. Their core offerings include research and contract research services (from concept to industrial implementation), technology transfer through their industrial network, and academic education collaboration with Saarland University and Saarland University of Technology and Economics. The research portfolio spans multiple focus areas including robotics, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence (particularly multimodal smart sensing), smart material systems, thin film technology, condition monitoring, and big data analytics. ZeMA also recently established the HyCATT research area focused on hydrogen infrastructure following acquisition from Bosch. They serve diverse industries including automotive, aerospace, special mechanical engineering, white goods, bio-medical technology, fluid & process engineering, and air conditioning technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEI – Saarland Engineering Institute: The new brand identity ZeMA is transforming into, which will link engineering sciences with computer science, natural sciences, and other disciplines like medicine.

Products and services

• Contract Research and Development Services Application-oriented contract research for industrial partners, from initial idea through to industrial implementation. Interdisciplinary teams analyze, conceptualize, develop, and validate prototypical products and production technologies across mechatronics, automation, robotics, AI, materials, and production engineering. Sold to industrial firms via commissioned R&D contracts.
• Technology Transfer Services Active transfer of research results to industrial companies through a continuously expanding industrial network, enabling application-oriented solutions and industry-related transfer of research outcomes.
• HyCATT Hydrogen Research Area New research area focused on stationary hydrogen technology research, established after ZeMA acquired hydrogen infrastructure from Bosch. Delivered as part of ZeMA's applied research and technology transfer portfolio to industrial partners.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Saarland University (Universität des Saarlandes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner holding 19% stake, providing research collaboration and academic education support. Works closely with ZeMA on interdisciplinary research combining engineering with computer science, natural sciences, and medicine.
• Saarland University of Technology and Economics (HTW Saar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of applied sciences partner holding 19% stake, contributing to applied research and practical training. Collaborates on technology transfer and competence development programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer IPA: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials, focused on production, automation, and mechatronics. Directly comparable to ZeMA's research focus areas in automation, versatile production technologies, and Industry 4.0.
• Fraunhofer IWU: Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, focused on production technology and automation. Highly comparable research focus area with direct overlap in mechatronics and assembly systems.
• DFKI (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence): German AI research center conducting applied R&D in AI, robotics, and intelligent systems. Comparable as a German applied research center with industry partnerships and direct overlap in ZeMA's AI and robotics research focus areas.
• CSEM: Swiss R&D center specializing in microelectronics and MEMS with applied research for industry. Comparable in size and focus on applied R&D with industry partnerships across multiple technology focus areas.
• TNO: Dutch applied research organization with government backing and contract research for industry. Similar non-profit structure, applied research model, and focus on mechatronics and Industry 4.0 research for industrial partners.
• SIRRIS: Belgian collective research center for the technology industry with similar SME-focused model and applied research offerings. Direct overlap in style, target market, and funded-by-government-applied-research positioning.
• VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik: German engineering and technology consulting firm with applied research focus. Comparable in providing engineering research and technology transfer services to industry across similar disciplines.
• Fraunhofer IPK: Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology, focused on production systems and digital manufacturing. Direct overlap with ZeMA's Industry 4.0 and assembly systems research portfolios.
• SINTEF: Nordic applied research organization with similar contract research model and industry partnerships. Comparable focus on applied research for industrial partners across multiple sectors including manufacturing and materials.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: The largest German applied research organization with 75+ institutes and €3B+ revenue. Provides similar contract research services across multiple disciplines and serves as the gold standard for the German applied research model that ZeMA operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zema-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 ZeMA