Gräfelfing (Germany), 18 May 2004

TILL Photonics Receives Honors at the Bavarian Innovation-Prize Ceremony

Every two years the Bavarian Government honors outstanding innovations which are expected to have an impact on the Bavarian economy and its competitive international standing. This year TILL Photonics' novel microscopy platform, iMIC, was among the winners.

The iMIC is a radical departure from the traditional light-microscope concept, which has remained virtually unchanged for over 150 years. The iMIC is a modular, scalable platform, geared towards modern methods of microscopic image acquisition using cameras, lasers, motors and computers with suitable software rather than hand and eye of the scientist. It provides a versaTILL basis for highest possible data throughput at the highest possible sensitivity and selectivity. Thus more than 100.000 high-resolution images of specimens may be acquired and critically analyzed per day - with sensitivity sufficient to detect and locate single molecules. Its compact form and closed casing opens up new application areas, which up until now have been out of reach for microscopes, like clean benches or space missions.

The iMIC evolved through close collaboration between the academic institution BIZ, the BioImaging Center at Munich University, and two companies, the research affiliate TILL I.D. and TILL Photonics GmbH as the leading force behind the development process. TILL Photonics GmbH, as a global supplier of fluorescence microscope systems with its own production and sales department, will market and sell the iMIC.