Dutch SME building optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy, and cell screening instruments for single-molecule biology and cancer research.
LUMICKS is a Dutch technology SME that develops advanced biophysics instrumentation, particularly optical tweezers combined with fluorescence microscopy for single-molecule and cell biology research. Their instruments enable researchers to physically manipulate and visualize individual DNA molecules, proteins, and cells — bridging the gap between imaging and mechanical measurement at the nanoscale. They also develop high-throughput cell screening and sorting platforms with applications in cancer therapy and drug discovery. Their H2020 participation reflects both their instrument development work and their role as a technology provider to life science research consortia.
Core to CTFMAUTOMATION (automating correlative optical tweezers-fluorescence experiments), LABELFREE (label-free imaging), and CHROMAVISION (super-resolution chromosome visualization).
Microfluidics appears in both CHROMAVISION (lab-on-a-chip for chromosome manipulation) and the LUMICKS cell screening project.
The LUMICKS project (z-Movi platform) focuses on cell screening and sorting for cancer therapy applications, representing a commercial product line.
AntiHelix studies DNA helicases in genome maintenance, while CHROMAVISION addressed chromosome visualization — both relying on LUMICKS instrumentation for molecular-level measurements.
LABELFREE developed phi-scattering imaging techniques, while CHROMAVISION applied super-resolution microscopy to metaphase chromosomes.
LUMICKS started in H2020 with a focus on imaging instrumentation — super-resolution microscopy, chromosome visualization, and lab-on-a-chip systems (CHROMAVISION, 2015). By 2017-2019, they were automating their core optical tweezers technology (CTFMAUTOMATION) and exploring label-free imaging (LABELFREE). Their most recent projects (2019-2020) show a clear shift toward biological applications and commercial products: DNA repair mechanisms (AntiHelix) and a dedicated cell screening platform for cancer therapy (LUMICKS/z-Movi). The trajectory is from instrument builder to application-focused biotech company with its own product platforms.
LUMICKS is transitioning from a pure instrumentation company toward integrated biological screening platforms, particularly targeting cancer therapy and drug discovery markets.
LUMICKS operates as both a coordinator of smaller instrument-focused projects (CTFMAUTOMATION at EUR 84K, LABELFREE at EUR 100K) and a specialist partner in larger research consortia (CHROMAVISION at EUR 938K). With 11 unique partners across 6 countries, they maintain a moderately diverse network rather than relying on repeat collaborators. Their dual role — leading their own technology development while contributing instrumentation expertise to others' research — makes them a flexible partner who can adapt to different consortium structures.
LUMICKS has worked with 11 unique partners across 6 countries, indicating a focused but genuinely European network. As a Dutch SME, their partnerships likely center on Western European research institutions and universities working in biophysics and molecular biology.
LUMICKS occupies a rare niche as a commercial SME that builds the actual instruments used in fundamental biophysics research — they don't just study molecules, they make the tools that let others study them. This positions them as both a technology provider and a research partner, which is unusual for a small company. For consortium builders, LUMICKS brings proprietary hardware and measurement capabilities that are difficult to replicate, making them a high-value partner for any project requiring single-molecule manipulation, force measurements, or advanced cell characterization.
