IMM Institut für Mikrotechnik

What IMM Institut für Mikrotechnik does

Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikrotechnik und Mikrosysteme (Fraunhofer IMM), founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, is a non-profit contract research institute within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft network. The institute delivers applied R&D services to industry, other research institutions, and universities, operating across four business divisions: Dezentrale & Mobile Wasserstofftechnik (Decentralized & Mobile Hydrogen Technology), Flow & Formulation Chemistry, Bioanalytik & Diagnostik (Bioanalytics & Diagnostics), and Mikrosystemtechnik (Microsystem Technology). Its strategic research fields align with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft priorities: hydrogen technologies, resource efficiency and climate technologies, digital healthcare, and bioeconomy.

Core technology centers on microengineering and microsystems, encompassing microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip, microstructured reactors, and custom MEMS sensors. Notable proprietary platforms include the Moving-Plug qPCR system (40 PCR cycles in under 15 minutes in a 22 × 16 × 8 cm portable analyzer), WISE thin-film helium sensor membranes industrialized with Inficon, flowDLS real-time inline nanoparticle sizing, BlockCell PEM fuel cell CHP units (50 kWel, >95 percent overall efficiency), the InBaDtec decentralized microbial contamination platform, and the AutoNutri multi-ion hydroponic monitoring system. Capabilities span the full value chain — simulation, design, prototype fabrication in an in-house cleanroom, pilot series, and technology transfer — supported by mechanical and electronics workshops, software development, and BSL-1 biological laboratories.

The business model is contract R&D and technology transfer, with revenue drawn from industry contracts and co-funded public research programs (EFRE, BMBF, federal and state ministries). Distribution is primarily direct engagement with enterprise and research clients, supplemented by trade show presence (analytica, IFAT, Hannover Messe, Medica, ACHEMA), regional training workshops at the Mainz facility, and channel leverage through the broader Fraunhofer alliance network (Chemie, Energie, Wasserstoff-Netzwerk, Nanotechnologie, SysWasser, MATERIALS, Rhein-Main, Kaiserslautern). The institute recently completed an EFRE/Rhineland-Pfalz-funded extension building and is expanding international pilots, including an India-based consortium for the AutoNutri agritech platform.

Name

IMM Institut für Mikrotechnik

Legal name

Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikrotechnik und Mikrosysteme IMM

Website

https://imm.fraunhofer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fraunhofer IMM is a non-profit contract research institute in Mainz, Germany, providing applied R&D in microfluidics, MEMS, microreactors, and lab-on-a-chip systems to industry, research institutions, and universities across energy, chemicals, healthcare, and environmental sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Contract Research and Development Services: As a leading contract research institute, Fraunhofer IMM provides R&D services to customers and partners from industry, research institutions, and universities. Revenue is generated through project-based research contracts, often co-funded by public research programs (EFRE, BMBF, federal and state ministries).
2. Training and Workshops: The institute offers continuing education programs and workshops on topics such as encapsulation technology, photo- and electrochemistry, and innovations management for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

test offering

Product overview

Fraunhofer IMM is a leading contract research institute providing R&D services for more than 30 years. The institute operates as a multi-divisional organization with four main business divisions: Dezentrale & Mobile Wasserstofftechnik (Decentralized & Mobile Hydrogen Technology), Flow & Formulation Chemistry, Bioanalytik & Diagnostik (Bioanalytics & Diagnostics), and Mikrosystemtechnik (Microsystem Technology). The portfolio includes specialized product platforms such as the InBaDtec platform for on-site biological contamination detection, AutoNutri multi-ion monitoring system for hydroponics, BlockCell fuel cell CHP units, Perses gas-selective membranes for helium and hydrogen sensing, the Moving-Plug qPCR system for ultrafast molecular diagnostics, and various microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip systems. Core competencies center on microfluidics, microreactor technology, catalyst development, cleanroom and silicon technology, and assay development for medical and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• flowDLS: Real-time particle size measurement technology for inline nanoparticle characterization.
• WISE

Quantifiable outcome

• PCR testing completed in under 15 minutes (40 cycles)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RM GerätebaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Project partner in the AutoNutri project for developing an automated multi-ion monitoring system for hydroponic cultivation systems.
• Institute of Chemical Technology MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International consortium partner in AutoNutri project investigating nutrient requirements and testing crop cultivation under realistic conditions in India.
• HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International consortium partner in AutoNutri project, established outdoor and indoor facilities in Igatpuri and Mumbai for testing and validating the multi-ion monitoring system.
• Inficon GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInficon GmbH collaborated with Fraunhofer IMM on the Perses project to develop highly selective thin-film membranes for helium detection. The membrane developed is the core component of the WISE(TM) helium sensor system used in Inficon Protec P3000 and Inficon T-Guard leak detectors.
• Technical University of KaiserslauterncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Perses project developing highly selective thin-film membranes for helium and hydrogen separation for gas sensor technology.
• Leistungszentrum EinzelzelltechnologiencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-performance center (Leistungszentrum) for single-cell technologies involving multiple Fraunhofer institutes providing bundled R&D services for SMEs.
• Fraunhofer-Allianz ChemiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Chemistry Alliance - network of Fraunhofer institutes focused on chemical research and development.
• Fraunhofer-Allianz EnergiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Energy Alliance - network of Fraunhofer institutes focused on energy research and technologies.
• Fraunhofer-Wasserstoff-NetzwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Hydrogen Network - coordinated network of Fraunhofer institutes working on hydrogen technologies.
• Fraunhofer-Netzwerk Nanotechnologie FNTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Nanotechnology Network - coordination of nanotechnology-related research across Fraunhofer institutes.
• Fraunhofer-Allianz SysWasserminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer SysWasser Alliance - network focused on water-related research and technologies.
• Fraunhofer-Verbund MATERIALSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Group MATERIALS - coordination of materials science research across the Fraunhofer network.
• Fraunhofer-Rhein-MainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Fraunhofer cluster in the Rhein-Main area for coordinated regional research activities.
• Fraunhofer KaiserslauternminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Fraunhofer cluster centered around Kaiserslautern for coordinated research activities.
• SiCellNet Network (Fraunhofer IMM, ILT, IMS, EMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual research campus of four Fraunhofer institutes (IMM, ILT, IMS, EMB) covering the entire process chain for manufacturing and evaluating single-cell analysis systems. Provides central point of contact for SMEs and works on feasibility studies and validation projects.
• Amrit Agro Hydroponic FarmminorOthersCommercial farm in Igatpuri selected for beta testing and training of the AutoNutri system, mainly growing fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers.
• Ezzi Hydroponic FarmminorOthersCommercial farm in Bhiwandi selected for beta testing and training of the AutoNutri system, growing leafy vegetables and herbs including basil.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Imec: Much larger Belgian micro/nanotechnology R&D center with a similar contract-research + partner-program model. Operates in adjacent areas (MEMS, life-sciences, microfluidics) but at significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Cepheid (a Danaher company): Established commercial microfluidics-based molecular diagnostics company (GeneXpert). Comparable end-application to IMM's Moving-Plug PCR and sepsis-detection programs, but operating at full commercial scale.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large US non-profit contract R&D organization covering micro-systems, energy, biomedical and environmental sciences. Comparable in mission and project-based funding model, though broader and US-centric.

Direct peers

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Publicly funded Finnish contract research organization with comparable divisions in microtechnologies, diagnostics, energy, and bioeconomy. Similar revenue model, customer mix, and applied-research positioning.
• Fraunhofer IZM: Sister Fraunhofer institute specializing in electronic packaging and microsystem integration. Operates with the same public-funder + contract-research model, with overlapping MEMS and microfluidics customers in Germany.
• CEA-Leti: French public R&D institute for micro- and nanotechnologies with strong microfluidics, MEMS and bio-diagnostic platform development. Directly comparable as a public-sector deep-tech contract research organization in continental Europe.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss public contract R&D institute with directly comparable MEMS, microfluidics, microreactor and system-integration capabilities serving industrial clients. Closest structural analog to IMM in terms of mission, public-funder mix, and technology scope.
• Fraunhofer IPA: Another Fraunhofer institute active in process engineering, cleanroom manufacturing, and industrial biotech. Comparable in scale, funding model, and customer mix; competes for similar BMBF/EFRE project mandates.

Emerging players

• Elvesys Group: French microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip company offering flow-control instruments and contract microfluidic development. Overlaps with IMM's microfluidics division and PCR/cartridge expertise at a more commercial scale.
• Inficon GmbH: Industrial partner that already commercializes IMM's WISE helium membrane in Protec P3000 and T-Guard leak detectors. Comparable as a sensor/measurement company operating in the same leak-detection and vacuum-instrumentation domain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=XOewe98GBFE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imm-institut-f%C3%BCr-mikrotechnik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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