Participating companies, research institutions and stakeholders

Abberior Instruments GmbH is a global pioneer in super-resolution microscopy. Founded in 2012 as a spin-off from Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Stefan W. Hell’s lab at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen, we build high-end fluorescence microscopes
including the cutting-edge STED and MINFLUX technologies. Our systems break the diffraction limit of light, allowing researchers worldwide to map samples from the millimeter scale down to molecular processes at the nanometer level. As a scientist-owned company, we deliver premier innovations, and backed by over 100 employees at our Göttingen headquarters and global offices in the US and China, we empower the scientific community to drive new discoveries.

The Jooß Group, founded in Oberkochen, currently employs approximately 50 people. This includes Jooß Mechanik GmbH (since 2010), Jooß Mechanik Baugruppen (since 2018), and Jooß Mechanik Filtertechnik (since 2020). With a modern fleet of CNC lathes and milling machines, virtually any machining task machining can be handled cost-effectively. Production takes place in batch sizes ranging from a single part to annual volumes of approximately 10,000 units, depending on the workpiece’s requirements. The production area was expanded again in August 2023 by 800 square meters to a total of 2,500 square meters.

Lytegate GmbH, based in Bad Nauheim (Hessen), develops and manufactures innovative solutions for fibre-optic sensor technology and optofluidics. Its product range includes bespoke optical fibre assemblies, probes, flow cells and UV/Vis measurement systems for applications in analytics, process measurement technology, life sciences and research. Thanks to its high level of development expertise, short response times and flexible manufacturing, Lytegate delivers customised solutions from the concept phase right through to volume manufacturing.

Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) is one of the leading technical universities in Europe, internationally recognized for excellence in engineering, architecture and applied sciences. The Department of Physics promotes cutting-edge research in photonics, quantum technologies, materials science and biomedical applications, combining fundamental studies with technological innovation. Within the Department, the VIBRA (Vibrational Bioimaging and Advanced Spectroscopy) group, led by Prof. Dario Polli, develops advanced optical microscopy and spectroscopy methods, including coherent Raman imaging, ultrafast spectroscopy and AI-assisted biomedical analysis. The group operates state-of-the-art laboratories for the development of innovative photonic tools for life science and material characterization.

Reutlingen University’s Process Analysis & Technology (PA&T) Centre conducts
application-oriented, industry-focused research at the interface of materials science,
process analytics, and intelligent manufacturing. Its research focuses on the
development and application of advanced analytical and technological methods for
the characterization, monitoring and optimization of materials and processes. Key
areas include optical spectroscopy (UV/VIS, NIR, IR, Raman and fluorescence),
multivariate data analysis, hyperspectral and chemical imaging, polymer technology,
surface design and green process engineering. In close collaboration with industrial
partners, PA&T develops innovative solutions for efficient, sustainable and quality-
assured processes.

SEKELS GmbH, headquartered in Ober-Mörlen, is an innovative specialist in magnetic technologies. With 25 employees—nearly half of whom are physicists and engineers—the company develops and manufactures custom solutions for magnetic materials, magnetic systems, and shielding. Its product portfolio includes inductive components, core sheets, ring-band cores, and magnetic shielding systems. The company, certified to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, offers all services from a single source: from technical consulting and prototype development to series production. Its applications include, in particular, medical technology and industry. A newly developed 2D/3D manipulator is designed to control magnetic nanoparticles and magnetically controllable objects such as microsensors and microactuators.

Sekels brings expertise in the fields of magnetism and magnetic manipulators (Tools & Systems) to the network, specifically for a new generation of microanalysis

Specto Photonics is an Italian deep-tech company developing advanced photonic instrumentation for Brillouin spectroscopy and microscopy. Founded as a spin-off from academic research, the company combines integrated photonics, optical engineering and spectroscopy to make mechanical characterization at the microscale more accessible to research and industrial users.

Its flagship product, ALBA, is an ultracompact Brillouin spectrometer based on silicon photonics and designed for integration with standard optical microscopy platforms. The technology enables label-free and non-destructive measurement of the mechanical properties of biological samples and materials, with applications ranging from mechanobiology and biomedical research to materials characterization and process monitoring.