Physicist Robert Thorne started with a sketch and a problem. Researchers needed better ways to handle delicate protein crystals for X-ray imaging. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve it, he designed a tool, tested it in his lab, and filed a patent. That decision sparked a science-driven business that now serves researchers on nearly every continent.
MiTeGen, the company he founded in 2003, has reached two major milestones: two decades in operation and its 25th patent. What began as a niche supplier of crystallography tools has grown into a trusted partner for labs working in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, archaeology and even art restoration. Its founders say the demand has only increased as research technologies become more precise and more complex.
Thorne, who is also a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow and professor in Cornell University’s physics department, saw the need while developing methods to examine biomolecules. His collaborators were struggling with the same basic challenge—moving extremely small crystals into imaging machines without damaging them. He asked his students to fabricate a prototype based on his sketch. After presenting it at a conference, a Japanese manufacturer approached him within hours. They wanted to know when the tool would be available for purchase. That fast response showed there was a global market ready to buy.
From Lab Concept to International Supplier
MiTeGen began with one clear goal: give scientists practical, well-designed tools that help them work faster and with fewer failed samples. Crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy require clean handling and consistent results. Thorne and his early team designed products to reduce error and save time. Many of those early inventions are still in use and have been refined based on lab feedback.
The company’s leadership today includes scientists as well as engineers. Chief executive officer Benjamin Apker works with microfabricators, product designers and customer labs to tailor solutions. The company now supplies researchers in universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and museums. Some purchase standard items from their catalogue. Others request custom tools to fit non-traditional or highly specialised equipment.
Growth Driven by Practical Research Demands
The largest share of MiTeGen’s products support crystallography and cryo-EM. These methods allow scientists to study materials at the atomic or molecular level. Fields such as drug development, infectious disease research and structural biology have relied on these techniques for decades. Demand has only intensified as pharmaceutical companies race to develop vaccines, antivirals and precision medicines.
MiTeGen’s clients use its tools to manipulate samples too small for the eye to detect. A simple slip can ruin days of work. To solve this, the company designs sample mounts, loops, capillaries and cooling systems that keep materials stable. Even slight improvements in grip, alignment or temperature control can raise success rates during imaging. That is why many labs continue to return to the same supplier year after year.
Custom Design as a Competitive Edge
Beyond off-the-shelf tools, MiTeGen builds devices for specialised tasks. Labs working on cell biology may need mounts shaped for fragile tissues. Clinical diagnostic labs might request tools that fit automated platforms or meet regulatory criteria. Archaeologists handling ancient pigments or fibres require non-reactive materials and controlled humidity. The company’s team adapts to each of these requirements.
Microfabricator Zakk Dannemann and CEO Benjamin Apker regularly consult with clients on designs before production starts. MiTeGen has found that the fastest way to build loyalty is to meet the specific needs of researchers who cannot find solutions elsewhere. This approach also encourages innovation. Custom projects often uncover new uses for existing tools or inspire new patents.
Technology Partnerships Across Sectors
One reason MiTeGen has survived for two decades is its link to academic research. Thorne remains active at Cornell, where he guides students and maintains ties to research groups. Those connections help the company understand changes in imaging trends. For example, the growth of cryo-EM has increased demand for sample carriers that reduce ice contamination. MiTeGen developed accessories that align with this shift.
At the same time, clients outside traditional science are emerging. Art conservation specialists use microscopy to analyse centuries-old paints. Entomologists rely on micro-tools to study insect structures. Forensic labs apply crystal handling systems for crime scene materials. The company’s products now assist users who were not expected clients when it launched.
A Patent Portfolio Built on Real-World Use
The company’s 25 patents reflect experiments and scientific problem-solving. Each one represents a technique, material or system that researchers needed but could not access commercially. Patents cover areas such as thermal control, gripping mechanisms, micro-manipulation and mounts for non-standard shapes. Because many tools are used in cold or vacuum environments, durability and precision remain top priorities.
Rather than locking their ideas away, the company licenses some designs and sells others directly. This approach lets tools spread into labs with different financial capacities or regional access. Some products have become industry standards.
Training and Knowledge Sharing
Selling equipment is only one part of the model. MiTeGen also provides guidance on best practices and maintenance. Many labs have early-career researchers or technicians who are new to cryo-microscopy or crystallography. The company offers instructions that simplify setup and reduce training time.
Scientists also exchange feedback with MiTeGen staff through conferences and workshops. That back-and-forth informs design updates and helps avoid blind spots. It also builds trust among researchers who depend on reliable gear with long service lives.
Economic and Research Impact
The influence of a small scientific manufacturer can ripple widely. When labs work more efficiently, they finish experiments sooner and publish results faster. That pace can accelerate advancements in medicine, energy, food safety and environmental science. Tools that cut waste or reduce sample loss lower research costs. This matters especially to universities and public institutes working under grants or limited budgets.
MiTeGen’s products have contributed to major findings in biochemistry and molecular imaging. The company tracks where its tools appear in published research but does not publicly name clients unless those labs choose to cite its equipment.
Adapting to Regulatory and Material Shifts
As scientific technology evolves, regulatory requirements do too. Clinical diagnostics and medical research labs must meet strict standards. MiTeGen designs equipment that meets ISO guidelines and fits into sterilizable or disposable workflows. This is crucial for labs that handle pathogens or patient samples.
Supply chain challenges during global disruptions have also pushed the company to secure multiple material sources. The goal is to prevent shortages of specialized polymers, metals or glass. In some cases, they have replaced single-source materials with alternatives to keep delivery times stable.
Global Market and Local Manufacturing
While its reach is international, the company still manufactures many products in the United States. This allows tighter quality control and easier communication between engineers and machinists. It also gives flexibility to modify batches if customer feedback indicates a need for adjustments.
International distribution has expanded over time. The early interest from Japan has been followed by partnerships across Europe and North America. Researchers in smaller markets also buy from MiTeGen through online platforms and reseller agreements. The company maintains support channels online to troubleshoot and advise users in different time zones.
Looking Ahead: Research Needs Drive Future Tools
Scientific methods continue to change. Advances in high-resolution imaging and automation will likely create new demands for sample handling. Miniaturisation, environmental monitoring and hybrid instruments may require entirely new tool categories. MiTeGen’s leadership expects to file more patents as labs identify fresh challenges.
Climate-controlled transport cases, humidity-free transfer systems and smart storage are among the areas under discussion. As research collaboration grows across borders, consistent tool quality becomes more important for reproducibility. The company’s ability to customise quickly may give it an edge.
Company Culture Rooted in Science
Many commercial toolmakers rely on engineers or business strategists. MiTeGen’s foundation in active research sets it apart. Founders, staff and partners have direct experience with the frustrations of lab work. This culture encourages practical experimentation rather than top-down sales strategies. It also builds credibility with scientists who want both performance and value.
Thorne’s involvement has also influenced hiring. Employees with physics, materials science or biology backgrounds are common. They are encouraged to test prototypes and propose refinements.
Customer Feedback as a Growth Engine
Instead of releasing products and moving on, the company reviews customer outcomes. When a design causes delays, they modify the shape or material. When a user requests a different fit for a new imaging platform, tooling is adjusted. Some of the company’s most successful tools began as one-off custom requests that later became bestsellers.
This responsiveness has helped the company retain researchers over entire careers. As scientists change institutions or projects, many continue ordering the same reliable tools. The company sees this as proof that long-term trust can be as valuable as marketing.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Growth does not come without obstacles. Digital competitors, global supply issues and rapid changes in research funding can shift demand. The company must also ensure that new patents offer more than slight variations on old designs. Intellectual property disputes are a possibility as competitors build similar products.
However, the same forces creating challenges can also open new markets. The expansion of academic labs in Asia, the rise of precision medicine and the spread of electron microscopy in environmental science all create potential customers. Collaborations with universities, tech companies and government labs may drive the next generation of patented designs.
Quiet Influence Beyond the Lab
Many people outside science have never heard of MiTeGen, yet its tools have shaped major research milestones. Every successful crystallography experiment relies on stable handling from sample to detector. Every clear cryo-EM image depends on uniform cooling and precise placement. Without tools that fit those needs, even the most advanced machines cannot perform.
The company’s anniversary offers a moment to reflect not only on its products but also on the research progress made possible by small engineering advances. While big discoveries get headlines, much of innovation comes from tools designed to solve quiet, practical problems.
A Model of Science-Led Entrepreneurship
MiTeGen’s story shows how commercial success can grow from scientific curiosity. It began with a professor, his students and a need shared by labs around the world. Two decades later, the company continues to expand its portfolio while holding onto the values that helped it start. The combination of research insight and engineering problem-solving has kept it relevant.
As universities, hospitals and industry push for faster, safer and more precise science, companies that listen closely and adapt quickly will matter more. MiTeGen’s next decades will likely be shaped the same way its first were—by scientists asking for a better tool and designers finding a way to build it.
