Start signal for new single-cell technologies performance center

(Image: Fraunhofer IMM)

The year 2025 begins promisingly – the new Fraunhofer Center of Excellence for Single-Cell Technologies LZ-EZT starts operations on January 1st. It aims to become a central contact point in the bio-med-tech Gravitational Center Rhein-Main/Rhein-Neckar, creating innovative, needs-based solutions in the field of single-cell technologies through the complementary expertise of its partners.

At the Center of Excellence for Single-Cell Technologies LZ-EZT, already established key players from basic research, clinics, and industry in the region will further develop this research focus, addressing diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Based on network activities and interdisciplinary collaborations, the transfer of innovative technologies will be accelerated. Furthermore, the goal is to grow as a regional, dynamic ecosystem and to emerge from a strong position as a central contact point for future partners from science and industry in the field of single-cell technologies.

Main actors of the LZ-EZT include the Fraunhofer Institute for Microtechnology and Microsystems IMM in Mainz, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation IPA in Mannheim, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University Medical Center Mainz, Technische Universität Darmstadt, and the University Medical Center Mannheim.

“Congratulations to IMM on the great success in securing a Fraunhofer Center of Excellence. Single-cell technology offers opportunities for the development of new, significant medical technologies of the future. With project funding for ORGANOIDICS, BIOPRINT, and TrapJet totaling around 3.5 million euros, the state has already supported the establishment of the topic “Single-Cell Technology” at IMM,” says Clemens Hoch, Minister for Science and Health. IMM is an important actor and partner to make Rhineland-Palatinate’s science and cooperating companies leading in future technologies through innovation and knowledge transfer, thereby fostering the development into a leading biotechnology hub. The Center of Excellence for Single-Cell Technologies is the second of its kind in Rhineland-Palatinate after the Fraunhofer Center for Simulation and Software-Based Innovation in Kaiserslautern.

Center addresses rapidly growing future markets

The combination of microfluidic know-how, clinical health research, and automation with comprehensive expertise and state-of-the-art infrastructure provides a unique foundation for the isolation, analysis, and further processing of biological single cells and is a fundamental starting point for a variety of highly relevant application fields, from diagnostics and personalized therapy to food production. Single-cell technologies enable understanding the diversity and heterogeneity of cell populations and analyzing individual cells regarding their gene and protein expression, metabolism, and other cellular properties. This information is crucial for unraveling disease mechanisms and developing new therapeutic approaches.

Prof. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, emphasizes: “Innovative leaps in single-cell technology are essential to significantly advance rapidly growing future markets such as personalized medicine. At the Center of Excellence for Single-Cell Technologies, we bring together key players from basic research, clinics, and industry for this research focus and rely on interdisciplinary collaboration. The solutions resulting from this will boost the competitiveness of our companies and develop the location into a central hub for single-cell technologies in Germany and Europe in the future.”

The founding of the center is based on a long-term and strategic orientation of IMM and IPA towards technology developments in the areas of single-cell extraction, detection, isolation, analysis, and dispensing. This orientation is complemented by preparatory work with academic partners in the region, focusing on a shared research focus. “I am confident that the LZ will create infrastructure that enables research results to be quickly translated into market-ready products in cooperation with industry partners, creating direct added value for the local economy,” says Professor Michael Maskos, Director of the Fraunhofer IMM.

For sustainable growth of the innovation ecosystem at LZ-EZT, the core partners also invite cross-regional companies, research institutions, and clinical partners to become part of the network and jointly shape the future of single-cell technologies. “With the LZ-EZT, we are creating a dynamic platform that promotes the direct transfer of innovative technologies into industry and thus advances promising single-cell technologies for personalized medicine. This creates significant added value for the economy and the people in our region and beyond,” adds Professor Thomas Bauernhansl, Director of the Fraunhofer IPA.