Photonscore Gmbh

What Photonscore Gmbh does

Photonscore GmbH is a German scientific instrumentation company founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Magdeburg, where its founders developed the LINCam quantum light sensor over more than ten years of prior research. The company designs, manufactures, and sells single-photon counting instruments for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), quantum optics, and bioimaging applications. Its core product portfolio comprises three complementary systems: LINCam, a wide-field single-photon-counting camera combining megapixel spatial resolution (1000x1000 pixels) with 40 ps temporal accuracy for scanning-free TCSPC; LINTag, an 8-channel time-to-digital converter delivering 400 MTags/s throughput with 8.5 ps timing accuracy; and PhotonPix, a high-throughput MCP-PMT detector supporting 100+ MHz sustained count rates with sub-35 ps timing resolution launched in February 2025. The company also provides a Python module and legacy MATLAB toolbox for hardware control, data handling (.photons file format), and FLIM analysis including basic neural network inference for post-processing.

Photonscore sells directly to research institutions and scientific instrumentation OEMs through quote-based B2B contracts, primarily serving academic users in DACH, broader Europe, and North America, with usage also documented in Australia. Distribution is supported by channel presence at major photonics conferences (SPIE BiOS, Photonics West, DPG Spring Meeting) and co-exhibition partnerships with Omicron Laserage and EXOSENS. The company has been recognized with a German Innovation Award finalist position in 2019 and 2nd Prize in the Wiley Analytical Science Award 2024 for the LINCam. Funding has historically come from non-dilutive German research grants (BMWi/ESF, BMBF, DFG) rather than institutional venture capital, and the founders — Dr.-Ing. Werner Zuschratter, Dr.-Ing. Yury Prokazov, and Evgeny Turbin — remain operationally involved, with Prokazov and Turbin serving as Managing Directors.

Name

Photonscore Gmbh

Legal name

PHOTONSCORE GmbH

Website

https://photonscore.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Photonscore GmbH is a German scientific instrumentation company that designs and sells single-photon counting systems (LINCam, LINTag, PhotonPix) for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, quantum optics, and bioimaging, sold directly to academic and industrial research institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Sensor Components & Subsystems (Lasers, Vacuum, Photonics, Diamond/NV, MEMS) (HDAGAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Photonics & Quantum Imaging (Single-Photon, Lidar, Ghost Imaging) (HDAGAHAF), Quantum Sensing, Metrology & Imaging Research (HDAGAMAJ), Quantum Spectroscopy & Chemical/Biological Sensing (HDAGAHAH), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors (HDAHAHAL)

Keywords

• Single photon counting
• Fluorescence lifetime imaging
• Time-correlated photon detection
• Quantum light sensors
• Scientific instrumentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrumentation Hardware: Sale of single-photon counting systems including LINCam, LINTag, and PhotonPix. These are precision scientific instruments for research applications. Revenue is generated through direct sales of hardware systems to research institutions and companies.
2. Software Licenses and Support: Software products including MATLAB toolbox, Python modules, and documentation for data analysis. May include software support and updates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Photonscore GmbH develops and manufactures single-photon-counting scientific instruments for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), quantum optics, and bioimaging applications. The portfolio includes LINCam (megapixel single-photon-counting camera with 40 ps temporal accuracy), LINTag (8-channel time-tagger with 400 MTags/s throughput), and PhotonPix (MCP-PMT-based photon detector with count rates above 100 MHz), along with supporting Python and MATLAB software for data acquisition and analysis.

Product overview

Photonscore GmbH develops and commercializes ultra-sensitive single-photon-counting instruments for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and related applications. The product portfolio consists of three complementary hardware systems: LINCam (single-photon-counting camera with spatial and temporal resolution), LINTag (high-throughput time-tagger for fast acquisition), and PhotonPix (high-count-rate photon detector). The company also provides Python and MATLAB software development tools, technical documentation, and a Learn Portal with tutorials for users ranging from beginners to experienced researchers in biophysics, neuroscience, and materials science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LINCam A single-photon-counting camera system for scanning-free time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) with megapixel positional resolution (1000x1000 pixels) and 40 ps temporal accuracy. Combines camera-like spatial detection with photon counting and timing capabilities for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Intended for research institutions conducting advanced microscopy and bioimaging.
• LINTag A high-throughput time-tagger system for ultra-fast single-photon-streaming acquisition. Features 8 acquisition channels, delivers over 400 MTags/s with less than 8.5 ps accuracy, and transmits data via 10G Ethernet SFP+ connection with embedded PC for direct FPGA access. Designed for researchers requiring ultra-fast data acquisition in photon counting workflows.
• PhotonPix A high-throughput single-photon-counting detector based on microchannel-plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) technology. Features dead time below 2 ns, sustainable count rates above 100 MHz, burst rates up to 1 GHz, timing resolution below 35 ps, and 8 mm diameter active area with four photocathode options matching different spectral ranges. Targeted at high-throughput photon detection applications.

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution where LINCam technology was developed over 10+ years at the imaging core facility. Photonscore is a spin-off from this institute. Ongoing collaborative research relationship including the EYECam project for in-vivo diagnosis of eye disorders.
• Omicron LaserageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExhibited alongside Omicron at Photonics West 2024 (booth 4529). Omicron is a laser manufacturer commonly paired with Photonscore systems in demonstration setups.
• EXOSENSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhoton counting products exhibited at SPIE BiOS 2024 at the EXOSENS booth (8273) in San Francisco.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MPD (Micro Photon Devices): Italian manufacturer of single-photon counting detectors based on SPAD and MCP-PMT technology, including the PDM series. Directly competes with PhotonPix in the high-throughput, low-jitter single-photon detector segment used in quantum optics and biophotonics research.
• ISS Inc. US-based maker of frequency-domain and time-domain FLIM instrumentation ( Alba, FastFLIM ) and confocal microscopy systems. Competes with Photonscore in FLIM research workflows, particularly where integrated microscope platforms are preferred over detector-only upgrades.
• Becker & Hickl GmbH: Long-established Berlin manufacturer of TCSPC modules, SPCM photon counters, and FLIM upgrade kits for confocal microscopes. Competes directly with Photonscore's LINCam and LINTag in the FLIM and time-resolved spectroscopy research market, particularly for confocal and multi-photon microscopy workflows.
• Swabian Instruments: Stuttgart-based vendor of high-performance time taggers (Time Tagger series) and single-photon counting modules. Closest functional overlap with Photonscore's LINTag product, serving quantum optics and single-molecule research customers globally.
• PicoQuant GmbH: Berlin-based specialist in TCSPC electronics, single-photon counting modules, pulsed diode lasers, and FLIM systems. Direct head-to-head competitor in research-grade photon counting and time-resolved fluorescence instrumentation, sharing Photonscore's German scientific-instrument DNA and academic customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Excelitas Technologies: North American photonics company offering a wide range of single-photon counting modules (SPCM-AQ) and MCP-PMT detectors. Overlaps with PhotonPix in the photon-counting detector market but serves a much broader life-sciences and OEM customer base.
• Thorlabs: Large US-based photonics OEM distributing scientific cameras, detectors, and optical building blocks. LINCam is positioned as a drop-in replacement for certain Thorlabs/Hamamatsu CCD cameras in microscopy rigs, making Thorlabs both a potential partner and a broad-incumbent competitor.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Japan-based global leader in photonics detectors (PMTs, MCP-PMTs, SPADs, CCD/EMCCD cameras). Competes with PhotonPix and LINCam in single-photon detection, but serves a far broader portfolio across scientific, medical, and industrial imaging at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• ID Quantique: Swiss specialist in single-photon detection and quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. Overlaps with Photonscore in quantum-optics and trapped-ion applications but focuses on commercial quantum communication rather than bioimaging or research detectors.
• Aurea Technology: French designer of single-photon counting modules based on InGaAs/InP SPADs and SNSPDs for quantum and life-sciences applications. Comparable niche scale to Photonscore, addressing overlapping quantum optics customers, particularly in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/photonscore-gmbh

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 Photonscore Gmbh