The Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Hamburg, or DESY for short, continues to do pioneering work in basic research and enjoys a global reputation. It is also home to a growing number of startups. In this article, we present three of them that are direct spin-offs from DESY: axiom insights, Cycle and Königssystems.
axiom insights
Founded in 2019, the startup axiom insights helps research teams in the pharmaceutical industry to develop drugs. The technological basis for this is X-ray fluorescence analysis, an imaging method from materials analysis that is normally used to examine solid samples made of glass or ceramics, for example. A collaboration between axiom insights and the cosmetics company Beiersdorf demonstrates the practical benefits of this method. It was possible to demonstrate visually that the coenzyme Q-10 used in skin creams is actually absorbed by the individual skin cells.
Cycle
One femtosecond corresponds to one quadrillionth of a second. This is an unimaginably short period of time, but it clearly demonstrates the high-precision technology used in femtosecond lasers. The startup Cycle, founded in 2015, develops such devices and measurement systems based on them. They are used in areas such as biology and material analysis. Cycle's customers include research institutions all over the world and its most prominent partner is probably the European Space Agency (ESA).
Königssystems
The startup Königssystems, founded in 2018, specialises in the development of complex vacuum systems for a wide range of applications. The company also has extensive experience with thin film coatings for scientific and commercial applications. An innovative material that Königssystems presented for the first time in fall 2024 could play an important role in the future of energy storage. It is a material that transforms ordinary concrete into an energy storage medium.
