Collaboration Accelerates Innovation in Ultrafast Electron Microscopy, Enabling Cutting-Edge Research and Industrial Applications
Göttingen, 2.12.2024
JEOL-IDES, a leading company in the development of scientific instruments, has licensed an innovative electron beam technology from the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT) and the Georg-August-University Göttingen (Germany). Developed in the research team led by Professor Claus Ropers, the technology drastically enhances ultrafast transmission electron microscopy (UTEM), providing unprecedented precision for advanced imaging applications.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a powerful imaging technique used to study the structure and properties of materials at the atomic scale. TEM is widely employed in fields such as materials science, biology, and nanotechnology, allowing researchers and users to visualize the internal structure of cells, nanomaterials, and other substances with extremely high resolution. The licensed technology from the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen and the University of Göttingen significantly enhances and expands TEM by integrating laser-driven electron emitters. This advancement allows for higher precision in electron beam control, improving image resolution and enabling the observation of ultrafast processes. The increased precision and speed promote scientific and applied investigations, uncovering materials dynamics and fundamental interactions on the nanoscale.
Dr. Bryan Reed from JEOL-IDES about the agreement: “This is one of those rare collaborations where there’s a natural fit at every level: Scientific, technological, and industrial. Electron microscopy has long desired the kind of precise, nimble control over its fundamental particles that photonics has enjoyed for decades, coupled with the rock-solid, flexible, atomic-scale performance of a modern TEM. Such capabilities that until recently only existed in the most cutting-edge university laboratories will now be available to scientists around the world. If you ever wanted to play with ultrafast light-matter interactions at the atomic scale, now’s your chance.”
Facilitated by the technology transfer organizations Max Planck Innovation and MBM ScienceBridge GmbH, this technology license agreement and partnership underscore the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to drive cutting-edge technological advancements. “This close cooperation ensures that the innovative technology is not only brought to market but also continually refined and adapted for broader applications. The joint effort allows for the sharing of expertise and resources, accelerating the translation of research breakthroughs into practical, high-performance tools for both academic and industrial use. Ultimately, the collaboration promises to deliver tangible benefits in a wide range of scientific and technological fields”, adds Dr. Bernd Ctortecka, Patent and Licensing Manager at Max Planck Innovation, the technology transfer organization of the Max Planck Society.
About JEOL-IDES
JEOL has a 75 year history of delivering advanced scientific, industrial, and medical instrumentation. With its origins as one of the world’s first TEM manufacturers the company continues to lead the market in innovation across a broad portfolio of transmission and scanning electron microscope products. JEOL Ltd. acquired Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions Inc. in January of 2020 and IDES continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary focusing on research and development of advanced electron microscopy technologies. IDES was founded in 2009 with the goal of introducing time resolved electron microscopy to a wider audience of researchers. IDES’ products use pulsed lasers, rapid beam deflection, and high-speed electronics integration to capture snapshots of nanomaterials in action. IDES’ systems are installed around the world and are used by physicists, materials scientists, and biologists to mitigate specimen damage and understand the dynamics of nanoscale systems.
About Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, and the Department Ultrafast Dynamics
The Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences was founded on 1 January 2022 and explores scientific questions ranging from quantum and condensed-matter physics and chemistry to structural and cell biology, neuroscience and biomedical research. A central theme of the institute is the realization of breakthrough measurement technologies. The Department Ultrafast Dynamics, led by Claus Ropers, investigates ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics in solids, nanostructures and surfaces. Maintaining a collaboration with the University of Göttingen, the team develops and applies new experimental techniques based on imaging and diffraction with ultrashort electron pulses. A main innovation of the group is ultrafast transmission electron microscopy based on laser-triggered field emitters.
About Georg-August-University Göttingen and MBM ScienceBridge GmbH
Georg-August-University Göttingen, founded in 1737, is an internationally renowned research university that offers a broad range of subjects from the fields of natural sciences, humanities, medicine and social sciences. With about 30.000 students and more than 210 degree programs, the University of Göttingen is one of the largest universities in Germany.
MBM ScienceBridge GmbH is the technology transfer organization of the Georg-August-University Public Law Foundation. It was founded in 2004 as a wholly owned subsidiary and is responsible for the evaluation, protection and commercialization of inventions of higher education institutions and research facilities. Since 2007, MBM ScienceBridge GmbH works not only for the Georg-August-University in the field of technology transfer, but also supports further higher education institutions and universities in Lower Saxony.
About Max Planck Innovation
Max Planck Innovation is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With our interdisciplinary team we advise and support scientists of the Max Planck Institutes in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. We offer industry a unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus, we perform an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products, which contribute to the economic and social progress.
More information under www.max-planck-innovation.com
