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UpNano

HardwareVienna, AustriaFounded 2018· One of 1733 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

UpNano develops high-resolution 3D printers that utilize advanced 2-photon polymerization technology, offering unmatched speed and precision.

CEO / Founder
Bernhard Kueenburg
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$7.6M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
aws Gründungsfonds, Novacapital, IGO Innovation GmbH, ILUM Tec

Technology & Products

Key Products

NanoOne 3D printer series, NanoOne Bio, NanoOne Green

Technological Advantage

Combines high laser power, fine resolution, and intuitive software for unparalleled performance.

Patent position

UpNano filed 5 patent families in 2022–2024, down from 10 in 2019–2021, a 50% fall; tracked AM filings in the same patent offices fell 21%, so UpNano fell faster. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
5 families filed 2022–2024, 10 in 2019–2021 (-50%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -21%
Process mix, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Vat photopolymerization 100% → 100%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Equipment 89% → 100%
Filed in
EP 33%WO 33%US 33%CN 7%
Named competitors, AM patent families
Nanoscribe 28NematX 3

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

Differentiation

Value Proposition

High-resolution 3D printing with unmatched speed and precision, capable of printing live cells for cellular and tissue applications

How They Differentiate

High-speed and high-resolution 2-photon polymerization technology sets UpNano apart from competitors.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Research facilities, universities, and businesses worldwide

Industry Verticals

Biomedicine, Electronics, Optics, Microfluidics

Competitors

Nanoscribe; Microlight3D; NematX

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

57% increase in turnover in 2023

Major Milestones

Successful market debut of NanoOne series, 57% turnover increase in 2023

Notable Customers

University of Bath; Medical University of Vienna; Roche

https://www.upnano.com

Recent coverage of UpNano

Official records

Filings, certifications, and programme counts AMPulse can show for this company.

  • [F] Horizon / CORDIS · 1 AM awardProject records derived from CORDIS, the European Union research results portal, CC BY 4.0.
  • [F] Immune Niches for Cancer ImmunoTherapy Enhancement · 2021

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
16
Granted
1
Families
15

Leading domains: process (16), equipment (14), material (1)

Filings by year: 2024: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4

  1. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHY-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A COMPONENT4763480 · EP
  2. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE LITHOGRAPHY-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPONENT2021198835 · WO
  3. DIMENSIONALLY STABLE AMORPHOUS CARBON STRUCTURES20250230047 · US
  4. METHOD FOR LITHOGRAPHY-BASED GENERATIVE PRODUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPONENT113453874 · CN
  5. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHY-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPONENT2024028667 · WO

Funding rounds

  • Series A$7.6M2024-10-18Lead: aws Gründerfonds
  • Seed$2.0M2021-05-01Lead: Angel Investor

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

UpNano occupies a niche in additive manufacturing by focusing on two-photon polymerization (TPP), a process that achieves sub-micron resolution by using focused laser pulses to cure photopolymer resins. Unlike conventional stereolithography or digital light processing, TPP enables true 3D structuring at the microscale, which is critical for applications such as microfluidics, optical components, and tissue engineering. The company differentiates itself from established TPP competitors like Nanoscribe and Microlight3D by emphasizing print speed alongside resolution, a combination that addresses a key bottleneck in high-precision microfabrication.

The company's core product line includes the NanoOne series of printers, with variants such as the NanoOne Bio and NanoOne Green. The NanoOne Bio is designed specifically for printing live cells within hydrogel scaffolds, enabling cellular and tissue applications that require both biocompatibility and fine structural control. The NanoOne Green targets broader micro-manufacturing needs, including electronics and optics. All systems combine high laser power with intuitive software to streamline the workflow from design to print.

UpNano's target customers are research facilities, universities, and businesses worldwide. Notable users include the University of Bath, the Medical University of Vienna, and Roche, indicating adoption in both academic biomedical research and pharmaceutical development. The company also partners with the MIT.nano Consortium and distributor AXT Pty Ltd to extend its reach into North American and Asia-Pacific markets. In 2023, UpNano reported a 57% increase in turnover, suggesting growing demand for its TPP systems.

The company holds six registered patents in the plastics working category, which likely cover aspects of its optical path, resin formulations, or process control. Its investors include aws Gründungsfonds, Novacapital, IGO Innovation GmbH, and ILUM Tec, with total disclosed funding of $7.6 million. A key open question is whether UpNano can scale beyond the research lab into high-volume industrial microfabrication, where competing technologies like two-photon grayscale lithography or nanoimprint may offer cost advantages for certain applications.