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Nanoscribe

HardwareEggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyFounded 2007· One of 1636 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

A global leader in high-precision 3D microfabrication, providing laser-based 3D printers that enable sub-micrometer resolution for industrial and scientific applications.

CEO / Founder
Martin Hermatschweiler
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$86.5M
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
Lab14 GmbH, RSBG SE, BICO Group (Former), ZEISS International (Former)

Technology & Products

Key Products

Quantum X platform (High-speed microfabrication for micro-optics), Quantum X bio (High-resolution 3D bioprinter for life sciences), Quantum X align (High-precision alignment for fiber-to-chip coupling), Photonic Professional GT2 (Versatile high-resolution 3D micro-printer), IP-Resins (Proprietary photoresists and specialty printing materials), Nanoscribe Nano-Print Solutions (Software and process support)

Technical position · AMPulse analysis

Proprietary Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2PGL) technology allows for ultra-smooth optical surfaces and high-speed voxel placement, significantly reducing production time compared to traditional 2PP methods.

Patent position

Vat photopolymerization’s share fell from 100% to 83%, while equipment remained 100%. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
7 families filed 2022–2024, 7 in 2019–2021 (0%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -20%
Process mix, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Vat photopolymerization 100% → 83%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Equipment 100% → 100%
Filed in
EP 50%US 29%CN 21%WO 14%JP 11%
Named competitors, AM patent families
UpNano 15Boston Micro Fabrication 64

28 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables the fabrication of complex 3D microstructures with sub-micron precision and optical-grade surface smoothness, bridging the gap between traditional micro-lithography and 3D printing.

How They Differentiate

Proprietary Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2PGL) technology which allows for ultra-smooth optical surfaces and significantly higher throughput than traditional 2PP methods.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Research universities, government laboratories, and industrial R&D departments in photonics, medical device manufacturing, and micro-electronics.

Industry Verticals

Micro-optics, Integrated Photonics, Life Sciences & Bioprinting, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Materials Science, Medical Technology

Competitors

UpNano; Microlight3D; Heidelberg Instruments (Multiphoton Optics); Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Over 400 systems installed globally; Annual revenue approximately €20M (SEK 230M) as of late 2024.

Major Milestones

Founded in 2007 as a spin-off from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Launched Quantum X in 2019, the first industrial system with 2PGL technology, Acquired by BICO Group in May 2021 for €50M, Inaugurated a new Microfabrication Experience Center in China in 2024, Acquired by Lab14 GmbH (a subsidiary of RSBG SE) in November 2024 for €26M

Notable Customers

Harvard University; Stanford University; ETH Zurich; Max Planck Institute; ZEISS; Nikon

https://www.nanoscribe.com

Recent coverage of Nanoscribe

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
36
Granted
13
Families
28

Leading domains: process (36), equipment (29), software (4)

Filings by year: 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5

  1. BEAM-SHAPING DEVICE AND LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS04430454 · EP
  2. Method and device for location-triggered application of an intensity pattern from electromagnetic radiation to a photosensitive substance and applications of same102649314 · CN
  3. How to make a three-dimensional structure6808349 · JP
  4. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE IN A LITHOGRAPHY FLUID04275869 · EP
  5. LASER LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A LASER LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS2025045401 · WO

Funding rounds

  • Acquisition$27.5M2024-11Lead: Lab14 GmbH · Source: MarketScreener
  • Acquisition$59.0M2021-05Lead: BICO Group · Source: Press Release
  • Series AUndisclosed2008-01Lead: ZEISS International · Source: Crunchbase

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Nanoscribe occupies a premium position in additive manufacturing as the pioneer and global market leader in two-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing. Founded in 2007 as a spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the company bridges the gap between traditional micro-lithography and 3D printing by enabling the fabrication of complex microstructures with sub-micron precision and optical-grade surface smoothness.

The company's core technology is Two-Photon Grayscale Lithography (2PGL), a proprietary advancement over conventional 2PP that allows for ultra-smooth optical surfaces and high-speed voxel placement. This is embodied in the Quantum X platform, which targets high-speed microfabrication for micro-optics, fiber-to-chip alignment, and bioprinting. The Photonic Professional GT2 serves as a versatile high-resolution micro-printer for research and development. Nanoscribe also produces proprietary IP-Resins photoresists and offers Nano-Print Solutions software and process support.

Customers include leading research universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and ETH Zurich, as well as industrial partners like ZEISS and Nikon. Applications span micro-optics, integrated photonics, life sciences and bioprinting, MEMS, materials science, and medical technology. With over 400 systems installed globally and annual revenue of approximately €20 million as of late 2024, the company serves both academic R&D and industrial manufacturing departments.

Nanoscribe's strategic moat rests on its proprietary 2PGL technology and a robust IP portfolio of over 50 patent families covering 3D laser lithography and 2PP processes. Key partnerships include ZEISS and Nikon for optics integration, and the company is now owned by Lab14 GmbH, a subsidiary of RSBG SE. A key open question is whether the company can extend its reach from research labs into high-volume industrial production for micro-optics and medical devices, where competitors like UpNano and Boston Micro Fabrication are also advancing.