Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS

What Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS does

The Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Ústav přístrojové techniky AV ČR, v.v.i., abbreviated ÚPT or ISI CAS) is a public research institution founded in 1957 and headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic. It is administratively subordinate to the Czech Academy of Sciences and operates eight major research departments spanning electron microscopy, coherence optics, microfotonics, electron and plasma technologies, medical signals, magnetic resonance, cryogenics and superconductivity, and electron beam technologies. The institute designs and manufactures bespoke scientific instruments including in-house electron beam welders (MEBW 60/2-E, ES2-UPT), environmental scanning electron microscopes (A-ESEM) for live hydrated samples, optical and acoustic tweezers, hyperspectral imaging systems, single- and two-photon lithography platforms, microfluidics, and ultra-high-frequency ECG (UHF-ECG) diagnostic systems. Multiple granted patents protect these technologies, including a second US patent for UHF-ECG.

The institute serves a diversified base across academic, medical, industrial, and space customers. Commercial revenue derives from four streams: institutional and project-based government funding (Czech Academy of Sciences, Strategy AV21, OP JAK, OP PIK, OP RDE), contract research and commissioned services (electron beam welding, vacuum brazing, EDS analysis, custom instrument builds), technology licensing and the academic spin-off VDI Technologies (ISO 13485 certified, commercializing UHF-ECG in dozens of European hospitals), and European/international research projects (ESA, NEUROGATE/DEEPER, COST, bilateral collaborations with Japan, USA, Germany, Ukraine). The GTM motion is primarily event- and community-driven: participation in scientific conferences (LASER World of PHOTONICS, NANOCON), science festivals (Festival vědy a techniky), press coverage via Czech Press Agency and national broadcasters, and engagement with research infrastructure networks (Czech-BioImaging, Czech Optical Cluster, AV21). The institute does not publish commercial pricing; instruments and services are delivered under individual contract research agreements.

Name

Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS

Legal name

Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Website

https://isibrno.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS is a Brno-based public research institution under the Czech Academy of Sciences that designs and manufactures bespoke scientific instruments — including electron beam welders, environmental electron microscopes, optical tweezers, and UHF-ECG medical diagnostics — for academic, medical, industrial, and aerospace customers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Imaging & Cardiac Safety Core Labs (ECOG/EEG/ECG) (HLAGAAAJ), Hemodynamic Monitoring & Cardiac Diagnostics (Cath Lab, FFR/IVUS/OCT) (HLAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Scientific instrumentation
• Electron beam welding
• Electron microscopy
• Photonics research
• Medical signal analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Brno

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government research funding: Core funding from the Czech Academy of Sciences (AV ČR) and national research programs including Strategy AV21 and OP JAK. The institute receives institutional grants for basic and applied research.
2. Contract research and commissioned services: Contract research for industry and clinical partners. Services include electron beam welding, vacuum brazing, leak testing, EDS elemental analysis, and custom instrument development.
3. Technology licensing and spinoffs: Technology transfer through spin-off companies such as VDI Technologies (UHF-ECG cardiac diagnostics), which commercializes institute-developed medical technologies.
4. European and international research projects: Funding from European programs (ESIF, OP RDE, Horizon Europe equivalent collaborations) and international partnerships including ESA, bilateral scientific collaborations, and COST/European cooperation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS is a public research institution that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced scientific instrumentation including electron beam welding systems, environmental scanning electron microscopes, laser systems, optical tweezers, and ultra-high-frequency ECG (UHF-ECG) cardiac diagnostic devices. The institute produces bespoke instruments that are unavailable from commercial vendors, performs contract research and analytical services for industry and clinical partners, and commercializes selected technologies via academic spin-offs such as VDI Technologies.

Product overview

The Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS (ÚPT AV ČR) operates as a research institution that develops and commercializes scientific instruments and technologies. The portfolio consists of two main product lines: (1) Electron Beam Technology systems including MEBW 60/2-E and ES2-UPT electron beam welders for high-precision welding of materials up to 10 cm thickness, vacuum brazing furnaces (PZ810), vacuum feedthroughs (electrical connectors), and custom special electronics; and (2) Applied and Integrated Photonics products including Compact Optical Tweezers for micro-object manipulation, hyperspectral imaging systems, single/two-photon lithography systems, microfluidics platforms, and surface topography analysis tools. These products serve industrial manufacturing, materials science, biomedical research, and academic research applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Electron Beam Technology (EBT): Specialized division focused on electron beam welding, vacuum brazing, and electronic feedthroughs
• Applied and Integrated Photonics (AIP)

Products and services

• Electron Beam Welding (EBW) Systems Electron beam welding machines that utilize focused high-energy electron beams to join materials, featuring depth effect enabling welding of materials over 10 cm thick in stainless steel in a single pass. Used by industrial manufacturers requiring precision joining of thick materials.
• MEBW 60/2-E Electron Beam Welder In-house designed and manufactured electron beam welder with cylindrical chamber and rotary manipulator supporting both radial and axial welds. The system enables welding of materials over 10 cm thick in stainless steel in a single pass, and serves industrial manufacturers requiring precision joining.
• ES2-UPT Electron Beam Welder In-house produced electron beam welding system featuring cylindrical chamber design that supports both perpendicular and parallel electron gun configurations, enabling radial or axial welds. Targeted at industrial manufacturers and research institutions requiring precision welding capabilities.
• Vacuum Brazing Services Vacuum brazing services using laboratory vacuum furnaces for creating leak-tight joints under vacuum conditions. Offered to industrial manufacturers on a contract basis through the Electron Beam Technologies department.
• PZ810 Vacuum Furnace Industrial vacuum furnace for high-temperature brazing and heat treatment applications, produced by the institute and used to provide vacuum brazing services to industrial clients.
• Vacuum Feedthroughs Vacuum-compatible electrical and signal feedthroughs including single-pin, D-SUB (9-pin), MIL-C-5015 (4-pin), SMB, and coaxial configurations for ISO-KF flanges. Manufactured in-house by the Electron Beam Technologies department.
• Special Electronics Development Custom electronics development service for scientific instrumentation including control systems for electron beam equipment and experimental setups. Provided to academic and industrial clients requiring tailored electronics solutions.
• Compact Optical Tweezers Optical tweezers system for manipulation of micro-objects using light beams, developed by the Applied and Integrated Photonics group. Used in physics, biology, and materials science research applications.
• Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Advanced imaging systems using hyperspectral imaging technology for applications in plant agriculture, microbiology, and material analysis. Developed by the Applied and Integrated Photonics group.
• Single and Two-Photon Lithography Systems Advanced lithography systems for micro- and nano-fabrication using single and two-photon polymerization techniques. Developed by the Applied and Integrated Photonics group.
• Microfluidics and Acoustofluidics Platforms Microfluidic systems for controlled synthesis and functionalization of liposomes, and acoustofluidics platforms for particle manipulation. Developed by the Applied and Integrated Photonics group.
• Surface Topography Analysis Systems Systems for mechanical properties and surface topography analysis using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and related techniques. Developed by the Applied and Integrated Photonics group.
• Ultra-High-Frequency ECG (UHF-ECG) Cardiac Diagnostic System Diagnostic technology for cardiac depolarization analysis using ultra-high-frequency electrocardiogram signals, enabling more precise cardiac diagnostics compared to standard ECG. Already deployed in dozens of hospitals across Europe through the VDI Technologies spin-off.

Quantifiable outcome

• UHF-ECG technology deployed in dozens of hospitals across Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Thermo Fisher Scientific supplied advanced electron microscope equipment (FIB-SEM Helios G4 HP) to ÚPT. ÚPT was recognized by Thermo Fisher Scientific Labs for collaboration excellence. The institute hosts Dual Beam laboratory inaugurated in 2019.
• Czech Optical Cluster (ČOK)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ÚPT presented Czech photonics at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2025 Munich alongside ELI Beamlines, HiLASE Centre, and Institute of Photonics and Electronics AV ČR at the Czech Optical Cluster booth.
• Czech Space Week / Czech Space ClusterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025ÚPT participated in Czech Space Week at the Gaudeamus fair in Brno, presenting interactive experiments related to space research through the Czech Space pavilion.
• Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Applied Physics, Sumy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Two Ukrainian scientists (Dr. Serhii Lebedynskyi and Dr. Yulia Lebedynska) completed professional internships at ÚPT in October 2025, working on cold field emission cathodes with carbon nanotubes.
• LasApp consortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ÚPT has been actively involved for over a year in the LasApp project, pushing the boundaries of laser technologies and finding entirely new application directions with breakthrough potential internationally.
• Forschungszentrum JülichmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Delegation from Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, led by Prof. Rafal Dunin-Borkowski, visited ÚPT in June 2025. The visit represents potential collaboration in nanoscale systems research.
• Czech-BioImagingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ÚPT participates in Czech-BioImaging research infrastructure, contributing hyperspectral imaging capabilities and advanced microscopy techniques to the national biomedical imaging network.
• Masaryk University (MU) — new Microscopy programmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Students from Masaryk University's new Microscopy program visited ÚPT laboratories for hands-on electron microscopy training in January 2025.
• NEUROGATE consortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021European project 'DEEPER' (Deep Brain Photonic Tools for Cell-Type Specific Targeting of Neural Diseases) launched January 2021, bringing together academic partners and industry to develop holographic endoscopy for brain research.
• VDI TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020VDI Technologies is an academic startup spun off from the institute, commercializing the ultra-high-frequency ECG (UHF-ECG) technology. The institute developed the core technology and continues R&D collaboration. VDI obtained ISO 13485 certification for medical device manufacturing and sales, and the technology is deployed in European hospitals.
• CARDIONcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CARDION, a distributor of cardiac devices, collaborated with ÚPT and FNUSA-ICRC to develop the VDI Monitor for pacemaker implantation guidance. The project received OOP PIK support and resulted in joint patent applications.
• FNUSA-ICRC (St. Anne's University Hospital / International Clinical Research Center, Brno)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-standing collaboration on cardiac signal research, stroke treatment research (CRYSA project for brain stroke), and joint development of cardiac monitoring technologies. Received Clinical Translational Award for international collaboration.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Cryogenics and Superconductivity group collaborates with ESA on projects including CRYSA, developing materials and systems for extreme low-temperature environments (down to -270°C) for space missions.
• Japanese institutions (University of Toyama, Japan Institute of Metals and Materials)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Ongoing collaboration with Japanese institutions in materials science and electron microscopy. Šárka Mikmeková received honorary professorship from University of Toyama and awards from the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials. Czech Semiconductor Center (CSC) collaboration connects science, universities and industry.
• University of Rochester (NY, USA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Trilateral collaboration with FNUSA-ICRC and University of Rochester on cardiac signal research, culminating in the Clinical Translational Award for the international team.
• VUT in Brno (BUT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Multiple collaborative programs with Brno University of Technology. Joint doctoral supervision (e.g., Dinara Sobola with FEKT VUT). Radovan Smíšek's PhD research at ÚPT involved VUT's Department of Biomedical Engineering. Summer schools on vacuum nanoelectronics co-organized with OTH Regensburg and WUST Wrocław.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• JEOL: Japanese manufacturer of electron microscopes, mass spectrometers, and scientific instruments. Direct competitor in transmission and scanning electron microscopy used across academic and industrial research, similar target customer base to the institute's microscopy groups.
• Bruker Corporation: Manufacturer of analytical laboratory instruments including mass spectrometry, NMR, and microscopy systems. Comparable analytical instrument portfolio targeting academic, life science, and materials research customers similar to the institute.
• Leica Microsystems (Danaher): Manufacturer of optical and electron microscopy systems, including correlative microscopy workflows. Overlaps with the institute's correlative imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and Raman spectroscopy capabilities.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global leader in electron microscopy instrumentation (including the Helios FIB-SEM used by the institute). Direct equipment supplier and collaborator on dual-beam laboratory, competes across analytical laboratory instruments and electromedical devices.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Major global manufacturer of electron and optical microscopes with overlapping capabilities in advanced imaging and correlative microscopy. Competes with the institute's microscopy and optical instrumentation offerings in academic and industrial markets.
• Hitachi High-Tech: Manufacturer of electron microscopes and analytical instruments with strong presence in materials science and life sciences. Competes directly with the institute's electron microscopy and electron beam technology offerings.

Direct peers

• Delong Instruments: Czech manufacturer of electron microscopes and LVEM (low-voltage electron microscopy) systems based in Brno. Direct regional peer with comparable academic and industrial customer segments and electron microscopy focus.
• TESCAN Group: Czech-based manufacturer of electron microscopes headquartered in Brno. Direct regional peer competing in scanning electron microscopy with similar customer base in academic research and materials science applications.

Others

• Max Planck Institute for Medical Research: German public research institute conducting fundamental research in medical imaging, photonics, and optical technologies. Similar publicly funded research structure with comparable cross-disciplinary photonics and medical signal work.

Emerging players

• VDI Technologies: Academic spin-off from the Institute commercializing UHF-ECG cardiac diagnostic technology with ISO 13485 certification. Closely related entity demonstrating the commercialization pathway for institute-developed medical technologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UstavPristrojoveTechniky
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/-stav-p-strojov-techniky-av-r-v-v-i-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS