Ultra-thin endoscopes made of glass fibers in medicine

Date

31. January 2026

Location

Jena

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When innovation finds its way from research to practice, technologies emerge that can change entire areas. The Jena-based start-up DeepEn is an example of how this transition can succeed – with courage, excellent science and a strong innovation ecosystem behind it.

DeepEn’s international team develops microinvasive endoscopes that use holographic techniques and precise light control to deliver high-resolution images from deep tissue layers. The technology is around ten times smaller than conventional endoscopes and opens up completely new perspectives, especially for neuronal research. After their spin-off from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology at the beginning of 2024, the team took the step into commercialization and an extraordinarily dynamic path took its course.

A decade of basic research

The Jena-based DeepTech startup can look back on more than ten years of research work. Since 2017, the team at the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Jena has been developing and researching and building on the expertise at the site. Based on new scientific findings, they developed a groundbreaking solution for the fight against Alzheimer’s, strokes and tumors.

Successful transfer to start-ups

In 2023, DeepEn had already found its way into the TRIP accelerator , which bridges the gap between research and the market. Individual coaching, a prototyping budget, workshops and access to a broad network helped the team to sharpen their business model and prepare the technology for application.

To the TRIP Accelerator

After entering the TRIP Final Class, DeepEn continued its path with increasing visibility. A special highlight was the presentation at the Hannover Messe, where the team not only attracted great interest, but also prevailed against 56 other startups in the nationwide pitch competition and won the week’s victory. This success impressively underlined the potential of the technology and gave the team additional momentum for further development.

2024 – a year full of visibility and awards

With the strengthened positioning, DeepEn managed to make the leap to several major stages in 2024. the team, jury and audience alike and was one of the winners of the event. This was followed shortly afterwards by the special prize for young companies at the Thuringia Innovation Award, which impressively underlined the technological quality and market potential of the development.

The innovation also resonated internationally: DeepEn was voted one of the 25 best science-based startup ideas worldwide in the Falling Walls competition and also received the prestigious European Microscopy Award 2024 from the European Microscopy Society – an award that is only awarded every four years.

Further development for the market

Another milestone followed at the beginning of 2025: DeepEn closed a seven-figure seed financing with bm|t, MBG Thüringen and Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland. This was supplemented by a funding commitment of 2.5 million euros from the EIC Transition Programme, which underlines the international confidence in the technology.

The highlight for the time being is the launch of the first product, the DeepEn One™ in vivo Microendoscopy Platform. This turns a visionary research project into a really available technology that opens up new paths in biomedicine and neuronal research.

An exemplary innovation journey from Thuringia

DeepEn stands for a success story that can only be created in a functioning innovation ecosystem: scientific know-how, entrepreneurial energy and continuous, demand-oriented funding are intertwined here. The foundation was able to accompany the team on several stages – from the TRIP Accelerator to the Investor Days Thuringia to the Thuringia Innovation Award.

Today, DeepEn is one of the most exciting deep-tech spin-offs in the region and shows how Thuringian research can grow to international relevance.