The Deep-Tech Start-Up memetis GmbH from Germany, which produces the world’s most compact and lightest commercially available valves driven by shape memory alloys, announces a new partnership with Fluid-o-Tech S.r.l., an Italian innovation and market leader in the field of fluid-pumps. “We see unique opportunities to build a technology leader in shape memory driven valving for the life sciences and industrial applications.” Christoph Wessendorf, one of the four memetis founders says.

memetis GmbH started as a Spin-Off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where co-founders Hinnerk Oßmer, Christof Megnin, and Marcel Gültig spent several years researching different applications and properties of shape memory alloys with Prof. Manfred Kohl. “The material is the machine” states Dr. Hinnerk Oßmer when asked about the advantages of shape memory alloys. Thanks to the excellent miniaturization capabilities of this material, memetis is able to design the smallest and most powerful actuators based on this innovative and proprietary technology.

One of the most promising fields for this technology are miniature valves to handle fluids in the life science industry. “Similar to the way miniaturization has revolutionized the electronics industry, smaller and lighter actuation components as well as systems undergo an increasing demand in the life science sector.” tells Dr. Christof Megnin, head of valve production at memetis. To address this increasing demand, memetis decided to join forces with a strategic partner, thereby leveraging synergies and enabling new solutions for the next generation of compact microfluidic systems.

“With Fluid-o-Tech, winning the Italian Innovation-award for companies three times in a row, we found the perfect partner for our ambitious goals.”, Dr. Marcel Gültig comments on the decision. “Developing products for the life science sector as well as the medical industry is a challenge, that is not easy to overcome as a small Start-Up”. By combining the innovative new technology of memetis with the production and business know-how of Fluid-o-Tech, fluid handling based on miniaturized shape memory valves will be taken to the next level. Customers of memetis develop PCR-Test devices, Peptide-Array-Synthesis and DNA-Analyzer, for example.

“The goal of the Fluid-o-Tech group is to not only provide individual components to customers, but provide them with fully integrated fluid-handling solutions.” states Diego Andreis, managing director of the family-owned company. With Dolphin Fluidics S.r.l., Fluid-o-Tech, already joined forces with a specialist for larger-scale shape memory valves. The extremely compact valves of memetis complement the portfolio in an ideal way. The latest significant investment in memetis by Fluid-o-Tech represents the unique opportunity to create a technology leader in shape memory driven smart fluidic handling systems. Francesco Butera, Managing Director of Dolphin Fluidics S.r.l. emphasizes that “with 30 years of experience and an extensive and strong patent portfolio we are the world leader group for digital valves based on Shape Memory technology from micro to macro.” Memetis’ existing shareholders, namely the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and a group of technology-affine angel investors fully share this vision and continue to support memetis’ growth and development.