What Hahn-Schickard does

Hahn-Schickard is a German applied research institute specializing in microsystem technology (Mikrosystemtechnik), founded in 1955 and headquartered in Villingen-Schwenningen with additional facilities in Freiburg and Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The institution operates as a direct R&D partner for industrial clients, providing integrated services spanning concept, research, development, manufacturing technology, and small-batch production. Its core technology stack combines sensor development, MEMS fabrication, microfluidics, microelectronics, micro energy harvesting, three-dimensional electronics (MID), bioanalytical testing, and applied AI/ML, delivered through 14 R&D service areas, 7 manufacturing technology capabilities, and 4 production services including dedicated MEMS and packaging foundries.

The organization maintains a notable proprietary product portfolio, anchored by the LabDisk microfluidic point-of-care diagnostic platform and award-winning developments such as the membraneless gas pressure sensor that received the Zukunftspreis 2025. It participates in the federally funded nanodiag BW Zukunftscluster for nanopore-based molecular diagnostics and runs an active spin-off (Ausgründungen) program that converts internal research into commercial entities. Service offerings are organized around four primary verticals—industrial and process technology, medical technology and bioanalytics, and energy and environment—with smart home/IoT as a secondary vertical. The institute is transitioning its legal form from a registered association (e.V.) to a non-profit limited liability company (gGmbH) effective 1 July 2026, with Karl-Peter Fritz appointed as Managing Director.

Commercially, Hahn-Schickard pursues a sales-led, project-based model: revenue is generated through R&D contracts with industrial partners and fee-for-service prototyping and small-scale manufacturing for MEMS, in-vitro diagnostics, and packaging. Pricing is negotiated per project rather than via published tiers. Distribution is direct and regional, concentrated on German and European industrial and technology customers, with marketing conducted through a content-rich website, annual reports, industry conferences (Technologietag, Quantum Effects, Eurosensors), and video/spin-off communications. Geographic footprint is regional within Baden-Württemberg, with engagement events hosted in both Freiburg and Stuttgart.

Name

Hahn-Schickard

Legal name

Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V.

Website

https://Hahn-Schickard.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hahn-Schickard is a German applied research institute providing microsystem technology R&D, prototyping, and small-scale MEMS and IVD manufacturing services. It serves industrial, medical, and energy/environment clients from facilities in Baden-Württemberg via project-based contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microsystem Technology R&D and Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

Keywords

• MEMS foundry services
• Microsystem technology development
• Microfluidic diagnostic platforms
• Contract research and development
• Sensor development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Villingen-schwenningen

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Development Contracts: Project-based R&D collaborations with industrial partners, funded through research contracts and development agreements
2. Prototype and Manufacturing Services: Fee-for-service prototyping and small-scale manufacturing for MEMS, IVD, and packaging services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hahn-Schickard is an applied research institute that develops intelligent microsystem technology solutions for industrial partners, spanning the full value chain from initial concept and R&D through manufacturing technology and small-series production. It offers specialized R&D service areas (sensor development, microfluidics, bioanalytics, electronics, MID, micro energy harvesting, AI, IoT), silicon-based and additive manufacturing technologies, and production services including MEMS foundry, packaging foundry, and IVD prototyping. Notable products include the LabDisk microfluidic diagnostic platform and a membraneless gas pressure sensor.

Product overview

Hahn-Schickard is an applied research institution (Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V., transitioning to gGmbH) that functions as a comprehensive R&D and manufacturing partner for microsystems technology. The organization operates a unified platform approach offering integrated services across the entire product lifecycle: from initial concept and research through development, manufacturing technology, and production. The portfolio encompasses 14 R&D service areas (sensor development, sensor integration, electronics/microelectronics, bioanalytical testing, laboratory automation, microfluidics/microdosing, high-frequency technology, spatial electronics/MID, micro energy harvesting, information technology, communication/IoT, artificial intelligence, measurement/analysis laboratory, and modeling/simulation), 7 manufacturing technology capabilities (silicon technology, precision machining, high-tech plastic functions, surface microstructuring, foil technologies, assembly/connection technology, and additive manufacturing/printing), and 4 production services (MEMS foundry, packaging foundry, IVD prototyping/manufacturing, and micromounting/packaging). Application domains span industry/process engineering, bioanalytics, medical technology, energy/environment, and smart home. Notable products include the LabDisk microfluidic diagnostic platform and participation in the nanodiag BW research cluster for nanopore-based molecular diagnostics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sensor Development Development of sensors for various applications including industrial, medical, and environmental monitoring using microsystems technology. Targeted at industrial and medical device clients.
• Sensor Integration Integration services for embedding sensors into end products and systems for seamless functionality, delivered to industrial partners.
• Electronics and Microelectronics Electronics and microelectronics development for sensor and microsystems applications.
• Bioanalytical Test Methods Bioanalytical testing methods and procedures for diagnostic and research applications, serving medical and life sciences clients.
• Laboratory Automation Laboratory automation solutions to improve efficiency and precision in analytical workflows.
• Microfluidics and Microdosing Microfluidics and microdosing technologies for precise fluid handling in diagnostic and analytical devices, for medical and IVD clients.
• High-Frequency Technology High-frequency technology research and development for communication and sensing applications.
• Spatial Electronics and MID (Molded Interconnect Devices) Three-dimensional electronics and Molded Interconnect Device (MID) technologies for compact device integration.
• Micro Energy Harvesting Energy harvesting solutions at microscale for autonomous sensor systems and IoT devices.
• Communication Technology and IoT Communication technology and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for connected sensor networks.
• Artificial Intelligence for Microsystems Artificial intelligence research and development applied to microsystems technology and sensor data analysis.
• Measurement and Analysis Laboratory Measurement and analysis laboratory services for testing and characterizing microsystems and sensors.
• Modeling and Simulation Modeling and simulation services for design optimization and virtual prototyping of microsystems.
• Silicon Technology (Standard Processes) Silicon technology manufacturing processes for MEMS and microsystems fabrication, including cleanroom-based standard processes.
• Precision Machining Precision machining services for microsystems components and tooling.
• Additive Manufacturing and Printing Technologies Additive manufacturing and printing technologies for rapid prototyping and custom microsystems production.
• Assembly and Connection Technology Assembly and connection technology services for microsystems packaging and integration.
• MEMS Foundry MEMS foundry services for manufacturing microelectromechanical systems from design through production, available to industrial and medical clients.
• Packaging Foundry Packaging foundry services for microsystems and semiconductor device packaging, including flip-chip and wire-bonding technologies.
• IVD Prototyping and Manufacturing Prototyping and manufacturing services specifically for in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) products.
• Micromountage and Packaging Micromounting and packaging services for assembled microsystems and miniaturized analytical devices.
• LabDisk A microfluidic disk-based diagnostic platform that enables modern point-of-need diagnostics through microfluidic technology, allowing rapid and precise testing outside traditional laboratory settings.
• Membraneless Gas Pressure Sensor A breakthrough membraneless (membranloser) gas pressure sensor technology developed for gas pressure measurement applications, recognized with the Zukunftspreis 2025 award.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• nanodiag BW (Nanodiagnostics Baden-Württemberg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnernanodiag BW is a Zukunftscluster (future cluster) funded by the German federal and state governments. Hahn-Schickard participates in this cluster which develops nanopore technologies to detect epigenetic influence factors for diseases and bring resulting diagnostic and therapeutic solutions into application. Focus areas include cancer and diabetes early detection through molecular diagnostics.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• imec: Belgium-based leading microelectronics R&D center with foundry services, sensor development, and biomedical nanoapplications — materially comparable in core technology and contract research model.
• CEA-Leti: French micro/nanoelectronics applied research institute offering MEMS, microfluidics, and biomedical device R&D with prototyping and small-volume production — directly comparable scope to Hahn-Schickard's portfolio.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's largest applied research organization with multiple institutes working on MEMS, microsystems, and sensor R&D; the closest comparable peer to Hahn-Schickard in mission, structure, and customer base.
• Holst Centre: Dutch-Belgian open-innovation R&D center for wireless sensor technologies and flexible electronics, sharing Hahn-Schickard's microsystem R&D and foundry-services model.
• CSEM: Swiss applied research center focused on microelectronics, MEMS, microfluidics, and diagnostics — comparable technology focus and contract R&D/manufacturing model to Hahn-Schickard.
• Tyndall National Institute: Irish deep-tech research center specializing in MEMS, microelectronics, and photonics with foundry services — peer in scale and applied research focus.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish applied research institute with strong MEMS, sensor, and bio-printing capabilities providing contract R&D and prototyping services — directly comparable in role and offerings.

Broad incumbents

• X-FAB Silicon Foundries: Major commercial specialty MEMS and analog/mixed-signal foundry — broader scale than Hahn-Schickard but overlapping in MEMS manufacturing services.
• Bosch Sensortec: World-leading MEMS sensor manufacturer and one of Hahn-Schickard's likely industrial partner/customers; broader portfolio but intersecting on microsystem sensor R&D and scale-up.
• Silex Microsystems: Commercial pure-play MEMS foundry offering wafer-level and packaging services; competes with Hahn-Schickard's MEMS Foundry service line but operates as a for-profit specialty manufacturer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Y7g4S1NkZaQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hahn-schickard

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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Frequently asked questions about Hahn-Schickard