Nanodiag BW

What Nanodiag BW does

Nanodiag BW is a publicly funded innovation network ("Zukunftscluster") based in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, that develops nanopore-based molecular diagnostics targeting epigenetic biomarkers associated with cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. The cluster is coordinated by Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V. in cooperation with the University of Freiburg's Faculty of Medicine, and brings together more than 25 partner organizations including universities, research institutes, and companies. Its technology stack combines biological and solid-state nanopores with microfluidic sample handling and AI-supported electrical signal analysis to enable single-molecule, real-time characterization of proteins and their epigenetic modifications, positioning the platform as a cost-effective, point-of-care alternative to mass spectrometry-based diagnostics.

The platform's product components include biological nanopore platforms for epigenetic factor detection, solid-state nanopore technology for scalable fabrication, integrated microfluidic sample preparation systems, and a digital nanopore sequencer under development for clinical biomarker panel validation. Target customer segments are clinical laboratories, hospitals, and diagnostic centers seeking advanced molecular diagnostic solutions, alongside academic and life sciences research institutions working on disease mechanisms and biomarker discovery.

The operating model is non-commercial: nanodiag BW does not sell products or charge for services. Funding flows from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMBF/BMFTR) under the Clusters4Future initiative at €15 million per three-year implementation phase, up to a potential €45 million across three phases, supplemented by accompanying measures from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism. The cluster distributes research outputs through its Transfer Labor initiative to industry partners for commercialization, and a Phase 2 workplan (April 2026 onward) includes selection of a long-term legal structure designed to enable post-grant commercial sustainability beyond the nine-year federal funding horizon.

Name

Nanodiag BW

Legal name

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

Website

https://nanodiag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nanodiag BW is a German government-funded research cluster developing nanopore-based molecular diagnostics for epigenetic biomarker detection in cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, serving clinical laboratories and life sciences researchers through a coordinated network of 25+ academic and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Molecular Diagnostics

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Translational Medicine & Biomarkers (HLAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK), Molecular Pathology & Tissue Biomarkers (IHC/ISH, digital pathology-linked markers) (HLAAAMAI), Proteomics & Biomarker Analytical Testing (HLAGADAG)

Keywords

• Molecular diagnostics
• Nanopore technology
• Epigenetics research
• Biomarker discovery
• Clinical diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Funding (BMBF): Public funding from Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMBF) under Clusters4Future initiative. €15 million approved for second implementation phase (2026-2029), with total potential of up to €45 million across three phases.
2. State Government Funding: Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism supports the cluster through accompanying measures

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

nanodiag BW operates an interdisciplinary innovation network that develops nanopore-based molecular diagnostics platforms for the direct, real-time analysis of individual molecules and epigenetic modifications. The cluster coordinates research, technology development, and knowledge transfer among universities, research institutes, and industry partners, targeting personalized diagnostic applications for cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes as a cost-effective, point-of-care alternative to mass spectrometry.

Product overview

Nanodiag BW is an innovation network developing a new generation of molecular diagnostics based on nanopore technology. The platform comprises multiple integrated components: biological nanopores and solid-state nanopores for single-molecule detection, microfluidic systems for sample handling, AI-based signal analysis methods for real-time electrical signature interpretation, and a digital nanopore sequencer for clinical applications. The technology enables direct, real-time analysis and identification of individual protein segments, with particular focus on epigenetic modifications associated with diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. The system provides a cost-effective, point-of-care alternative to established mass spectrometry methods for personalized diagnostics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nanopore Technology Platform An integrated molecular diagnostics platform using nanopores (channels with molecular dimensions) as biosensors to characterize and distinguish individual molecules in real-time, intended for clinical and life sciences research applications.
• Biological Nanopores Biological pore platforms developed for analyzing epigenetic modifications and proteins at the single-molecule level within the nanodiag BW research program.
• Solid-State Nanopores Solid-state nanopore platforms focused on scaling up pore fabrication and system integration for clinical applications.
• Microfluidic Systems Microfluidic systems developed for sample preparation and integration with nanopore detection platforms within the nanodiag BW research program.
• Digital Nanopore Sequencer A digital nanopore sequencer under development with focus on preparing for clinical application and validating an epigenetic biomarker panel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of first practical applications of nanopore technology for epigenetics and proteomics
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and project-level.

• Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Coordinating institution of nanodiag BW. Hahn-Schickard serves as the lead organization managing the innovation network, providing institutional support, and hosting the cluster management office.
• University of Freiburg (Faculty of Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner providing research excellence in physiology and molecular diagnostics. Prof. Jan C. Behrends serves as Deputy Cluster Spokesperson from the university.
• Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government supporting the cluster through accompanying measures to complement federal BMBF funding.
• LinkHealth@BWstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of networks in Baden-Württemberg connecting life sciences stakeholders, healthcare industry, research and startup ecosystems. nanodiag BW participates in cross-cluster exchange and signed Code of Conduct.
• BioRNstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiomedical cluster network celebrating 30 years. nanodiag BW participated in #life2026 convention in Heidelberg alongside other partner clusters.
• BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbHstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide initiative strengthening healthcare innovation and facilitating access to Baden-Württemberg's innovation ecosystem.
• SmartXHealth / FWTM FreiburgstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation platform for the Freiburg health region and tri-border area. Connects biomedical research, enabling technologies, industrial partners, and regional stakeholders.
• AMO GmbHproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner contributing to nanopore research. Presented at nanodiag Colloquium XIX on 2D materials transfer techniques for nanopore fabrication.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Healthineers: Global medical technology company with a substantial diagnostics portfolio covering clinical chemistry, immunoassays, and laboratory automation. Comparable to nanodiag BW as a broad incumbent shaping clinical diagnostics adoption pathways for novel biomarker workflows.
• Bio-Techne: Developer of life-science reagents and proteomics tools (including protein analysis kits and ELISA/Ella platforms) used in biomarker research and validation. Comparable to nanodiag BW in supplying enabling technologies for protein biomarker research in academic and clinical labs.
• QIAGEN: Global leader in molecular sample-prep and diagnostic workflows including epigenetics (e.g., PyroMark methylation assays). Comparable to nanodiag BW as a broad incumbent in molecular diagnostics with established clinical channels for epigenetic testing, serving as both a potential benchmark and a likely commercialization/acquisition partner.
• Roche Diagnostics: Major division of Roche covering clinical chemistry, immunoassays, and molecular diagnostics for oncology, neurology, and cardiometabolic diseases. Comparable to nanodiag BW in clinical diagnostic output area (cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes) and serves as the dominant commercial channel that any successful epigenetic assay must ultimately integrate with.
• Abbott Diagnostics: Global diagnostics company offering molecular, immunoassay, and point-of-care testing across infectious disease, oncology, and chronic conditions. Comparable to nanodiag BW as a broad incumbent in clinical diagnostics platforms serving overlapping disease areas.

Direct peers

• Oxford Nanopore Technologies: UK-based pioneer and global leader in commercial nanopore-based sequencing for DNA, RNA, and increasingly protein analysis. Closest direct peer to nanodiag BW given the shared nanopore sensing technology, with the key difference being Oxford Nanopore's commercial productization versus nanodiag BW's publicly funded R&D/consortium model.
• Quantapore: US-based company developing optical nanopore sequencing technology for single-molecule DNA and protein analysis. Directly comparable technology axis to nanodiag BW's combined biological/solid-state nanopore approach, with overlapping focus on single-molecule detection and biomarker characterization.
• Roswell Biotechnologies: US-based company applying nanopore sensing to molecular diagnostics and real-time biomarker detection. Highly comparable in target application (clinical molecular diagnostics via nanopores), making it a direct peer for nanodiag BW's translational nanopore diagnostic platform.
• Quanterix: US-based developer of ultra-sensitive single-molecule biomarker detection (Simoa platform) with primary focus on neurology (including Alzheimer's) and oncology diagnostics. Directly comparable to nanodiag BW in target disease areas (Alzheimer's, cancer) and in pursuing single-molecule-resolution biomarker readouts for clinical use.

Emerging players

• Alamar Biosciences: US-based emerging company developing ultra-sensitive protein biomarker detection platforms targeting neurological disease (including Alzheimer's) and oncology. Comparable to nanodiag BW in proteomic-based biomarker focus and disease-area overlap, with similar single-molecule detection philosophy at earlier commercial maturity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fnanodiagbw
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ZukunftsclusternanodiagBW/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanodiagbw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nanodiag BW